Ronald K. Kana 1936-2025

Mr. Kana was born in 1936 in Youngstown. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he suffered a severe neck injury in a Jeep accident. Despite the accident, he was able to serve for four years in the Air Force.

He worked as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1990.

He married Katherine J. Heltz in 1961 and became the stepfather to five children.

Following retirement, Mr. Kana and his wife moved to Spring Hill, Florida, where he enjoyed

playing golf and singing while playing his keyboard. He was known for his wonderful sense of humor and his overt kindness to everyone he met.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Virginia Kana of Youngstown; his wife, Katherine; his brothers, William and Raymond Connelly; his stepdaughter, Dianne Royall; and grandsons, Matthew Vandett and Ronnie Abrams.

He is survived by his sister, Kristina Booth (Joe) of McDonald; brother, Thomas Connelly (Connie) of Austintown; sister, Kathy Long (Charles) of Austintown; stepchildren, W. Ric Vandett (Angela) of Hickory, North Carolina, JoAnn Scott (Bill) of Youngstown, John Heltz of Cornelius, North Carolina, and Debe Lutz of Manhattan, Kansas. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 31 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in the chapel of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Hickory, North Carolina.

His ashes, along with those of his wife, will be placed in the St. Luke’s UMC Columbarium.

The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors of Vapor Hospice for their kindness and loving care of our loved one.

In lieu of flowers, people are asked to donate to Valor Hospice, c/o Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC, 28805.

(special notice)