On Monday, July 22, 2024, Rance J. Rada of Galena, IL, passed away in his home from a short battle with lung cancer. His two daughters were by his side throughout his fight. The Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena is assisting the family. Rance was born on November 25, 1949, and passed away at 74. Rance, named after a cowboy in an old western film, attended Larkin High School in Elgin, IL. He participated in track and wrestling. Shortly after graduating in 1967, he began a very successful 22-year career in the U.S. Military. He proudly served in the United States Air Force National Guard in the 217th Engineering Installation Squadron. At the end of his military career, Rance retired as a Senior Master Sergeant, which is the second-highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force. While serving in the Air Force, Rance also maintained a 30-year career as a lineman for Illinois Bell Telephone Company (fondly referred to by Rance as “Ma Bell”), which eventually became AT&T and then Ameritech. He was an avid union member and eventually became a steward of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union, local 336. If you knew Rance, you realize he preferred being hands-on in the ditches and up the telephone poles rather than wearing a suit and tie and attending business meetings. Rance was a passionate fisherman and hunter of pheasants. He looked forward to his yearly fishing trips with his buddies to Canada, where they lived on a houseboat for two weeks, living their best lives. When stationed in Iceland for the USAF, Rance found a way to do some ice fishing. Whether it was fishing in a pond with his grandkids, fishing on remote lakes in Canada, deep sea fishing in the ocean, or fishing with his daughters in their ski boat on Green Lake in Wisconsin, Rance loved every minute of those times. He could always look at a fish and tell exactly what type it was. After raising a family in Hampshire, IL, he moved to a home in a woodsy area of Genoa, IL. Rance was involved in the VFW and the American Legion wherever he lived. He dreamed of living in a house near a lake, where he could boat and fish in retirement. He realized that dream when he found a home in the wooded area of The Galena Territory in Galena, IL. Having nature right outside every window of his house, with more trees than he could count and a variety of wildlife around, was just what he’d worked hard his whole life to have. This is where he lived the last ten years and ultimately passed away, with doors and windows open, listening to the blowing trees and the evening sounds of his little “critters” just outside. Surviving members of Rance’s family include his two daughters, Jenny (Rada) Halsey and her partner, Chris Hansen, of Elburn, IL, and Krista (Rada) Robinson and her husband, Jeff Robinson, of Overland Park, KS. His five grandchildren include Christian, Connor, Cooper, Gracie, and Luke. Rance’s baby sister Alice (Rada) Monaghan, whom he fiercely protected in their youth, resides in Princeville, HI. He was preceded in death by his father, George Rada; mother, Delores Bethke; younger brothers, George and Ernie Bethke; older sister, Diane (Rada) Ropp; and stepmother (wife of George Rada), Marcie Rada. Rance’s patriotism for his country and strong convictions in his beliefs are unmatched. If you care to donate in his memory, he’d be honored if you supported the Wounded Warrior Project in his name https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/wwp-serves.  The family plans to hold a military memorial service at Elburn Veteran’s Memorial, 301 E. North St. Elburn, IL at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024.