CHICOPEE – Robert E. “Bob” Ranck, 82, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, took “His Final Flight Home” on Thursday, January 26, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania on November 20, 1934, a beloved son of the late Robert E. and Dorothy V. (Gray) Ranck. He was raised in Coatesville and was a graduate of Coatesville High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1953 and proudly served his country during the Korean War and received the National Defense Service Medal. He later re-enlisted and traveled throughout the United States while in the military. In 1957, he was stationed at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee and, in 1963, he ended his active duty status while he was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. He eventually settled in the Fairview section of Chicopee and enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserves at Westover where he was employed as a Radio Radar Technician for the Department of Defense. He retired in 1984 after a long career in the Air Force with the rank of Technical Sergeant. He remained true to his Air Force family, participating in a long battle to gain recognition of claims brought on behalf of aircrews and maintainers who flew and worked on post Vietnam C-123K Agent Orange “spray birds” after it was discovered that these men and women were being diagnosed with Agent Orange diseases. After years of administrative battles and litigation, the Department of Veterans Affairs conceded the legitimacy of these claims and opened its system of medical care and other benefits to suffering veterans. Active in his Catholic faith, he was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. During his younger years, Bob formed a band called the Music Makers where he was a drummer. In his later years, he met monthly with his friends who were known as “The Geezers” from Westover Air Reserve Base. Above all, Robert was a quiet man who loved spending time with his family and his wonderful friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Elinor M. (Paul) Ranck. They were married on April 19, 1958 at Saint Anne Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 58 years of happiness together. He also leaves his five loving children, Lisa Cunningham and her husband, David, of Belchertown, Robert E. Ranck, Jr. of Chicopee, Kathleen M. Conroy and her husband, Joseph, of Anchorage, AK, Edward C. Ranck and his wife, Robin, of Wilbraham and Douglas P. Ranck and his wife, Gina, of Chicopee; his six cherished grandchildren, Brendan Conroy, Olivia and Zachary Ranck and Madison, Colby and Cameron Ranck; his dear sister-in-law, Clara Ranck of New York, NY; his dear sisters-in law and brothers-in-law of the Paul family, Gloria Roy and her husband, Roger, of Warren, RI, Marie Duff of Ridgecrest, CA, Katheryne Paul of Albany, NY, Raymond Paul and his wife, Carol, of Hudson, NY, Grayce Dierkes and her husband, Warren, of Livingston, NY and Marjorie Paul of Enfield, CT; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Ranck and Paul families. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his loving daughter, Laura A. Ranck who was Called Home in May of 1962; his dear brother, Gerald B. Ranck who was Called Home in 2015, his dear sister-in-law, Joan McWhirt who was Called Home in 1997; and his dear brother-in-law, Edward Duff. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, February 3, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, February 2, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 or the Pioneer Valley USO, 250 Jenkins Street, Box 17, Westover ARB, Chicopee, MA 01022 or the Children’s Miracle Network at Baystate Medical Center, 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com