Husband of Janet (Johnson) Gilnack
Ralph Frederick Gilnack Jr., 81, of Middlebury passed away Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. He was the husband of Janet (Johnson) Gilnack and the late Irene (Elley) Gilnack.
Mr. Gilnack was born June 19, 1933, in Waterbury, the son of the late Ralph F. and Bertha (Wiggglesworth) Gilnack Doolittle. He was a 1951 graduate of Naugatuck High School, where he was on the school rifle team and football team. He continued his education at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Miami, Fla. He served his country during the Korean War in the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant in the 773 Aircraft Control and Warning Squad Division, 26th Air Division stationed at Montauk Point Long Island. He was employed for many years at the Bristol Company and Waterbury Farrell. He was a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Middlebury since 1958.
Mr. Gilnack was a member of the Shepard-Salem Lodge No. 78 A.F. and A.M. where he received his 50-year pin and assisted with DeMolay, a program preparing young men to lead happy and productive lives. He was cofounder of the Middlebury Rifle Club, which he ran for over 32 years, teaching instructional small-bore to teenagers. He was a high master in high-power rifle shooting.
In his retirement years, Ralph enjoyed traveling with his wife Janet to Florida and England. They also enjoyed motoring through New England in his MG TD sports car with their NYCONN MG Club friends. Ralph’s favorite home away from home was his cottage in the village of Popham Beach, Maine, where he spent many happy summers.
Besides his wife of 14 years, Mr. Gilnack is survived by his children, Ralph F Gilnack III and his wife, Debby, of Naugatuck; Barbara Fecteau and her husband, Paul, of Middlebury; Mary-Jane Erickson and her husband, Shane, of Naugatuck; Jim Gilnack and his wife, Jaime, of Bethlehem; his stepchildren, Mark Johnson and his wife, Penney, of Massachusetts and Erica Johnson of Oregon; his grandchildren Dan and Amanda Gilnack, Michael and Kevin Fecteau, and Jennifer and Tyler Erickson.
The family wishes to thank the Middlebury Fire Department, VNA of Watertown and Hospice of Waterbury (Hartford Health Care) for their outstanding care and compassion during Mr. Gilnack’s illness.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church on Tucker Hill Road and Rte. 188 in Middlebury. Burial will be held in the spring at Lake Elise Cemetery. Calling hours will be Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck at 201 Meadow St.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. George’s Episcopal Church, Tucker Hill Road, Middlebury, CT 06762 or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. For online condolences, to share a story or a photo, please visit www.fordfh.com.
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