ROBERT HORINEK obituary

HINGHAM - Robert Edward ("Bob") Horinek, 83, long-time Hingham area farmer, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, from complications of aplastic anemia.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. Burial will follow at the Hingham Cemetery.

Bob was born on June

2, 1921, to William and Mary (Malone) Horinek at the family homestead south of Rudyard. The family moved to a farm north of Hingham in the early 1920s, so he received his education in Hingham. He graduated from Hingham High School in 1940. He then attended the School of Aeronautics in Helena, where he graduated with an aircraft and engine mechanics license and a student pilot's permit.

During World War II, Robert worked for Lynch Flying Service in Belgrade, where he received his private pilot's license. The company contracted with the government to maintain civilian aircraft for primary and secondary flight training of military pilots. Many of these pilots later flew advanced civilian acrobatic airplanes.

At the conclusion of the war, Bob returned to the family farm and engaged in farming for the remainder of his life. During this time, he also worked for Hensley Flying Service in Havre. He was the first pilot to fly his own airplane in the Hingham area, and he gave many residents their first airplane ride. He owned numerous airplanes over the years, including a Taylor Craft, Aero Coupe and Piper Cruiser. He was a past member of the Montana Pilot's Association.

Robert and Kathleen were married in Hingham on Oct. 22, 1949. He operated Horinek Aero Repair at his farm south of town, where he maintained and rebuilt private aircraft and aerial spray planes. For the past 27 years, Robert and his son, Ron, worked together in the farming operations. He was a first-generation farmer after the homestead era, and the last member of his generation of the two Horinek families that homesteaded near Hingham.

Robert was a life-long member of Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church and had been active in the Knights of Columbus.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Margaret

Powelson and Lenora Gregoire; and brother, Richard Horinek.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Kathleen Horinek of Hingham; children, Barbara Brunelle of Great Falls, Ken (Debra) Horinek of Kalispell, James Horinek of Missoula and Ron Horinek of Hingham; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.