Michael Chornak

August 19, 1958 — August 2, 2015

Michael Frank Chornak, 56, left for heaven at 6:50 am Sunday, August 2, 2015, after a courageous two year battle with melanoma. He was born August 19, 1958, in Mt. Vernon, the son of Frank and Mollie (Hogg) Chornak. He married Kellie Winemiller and together they had two children, Collin of Marion and Sydney of Manhattan, Kansas. Mike graduated from Marion High School in 1976 where he was a well-known pole-vaulter. He then went on to SIU-C where he received his degree in Education, and later, his Master’s in Administration. He started his career teaching and coaching in Carterville, then came to Marion as a health instructor and coach. Nothing made him more proud, though, than when he became Marion Athletic Director in 1995. Mike bled blue and gold, never tiring of talking about all the various Marion sporting events, teams, games, and players. He took great pride in his job and was very dedicated to his coaches and players. He loved all his sports teams. He will be greatly missed in Wildcat country. Mike was a member of Second Baptist Church in Marion and also greatly enjoyed attending First Baptist Church in Marion. Other memberships include Southern Illinois Coaches Association, Illinois Athletic Directors Association, elected 2012-2013 Class 3A & 4A Division Athletic Director of the Year, Board Member for the Marion County Club, and member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Also, Mike started and sponsored the first Bass Fishing team at Marion High School. Mike was also an avid hunter and fisherman in his free time. He loved fishing all the lakes in southern Illinois, but especially enjoyed traveling to Canada and Alabama to fish the lakes there with his son and fishing buddies. Mike also enjoyed hunting deer with Collin at Wade Hudgens farm and goose hunting with him and the guys over at Pikes Hunting Club. Even if they didn’t get anything, they always had a lot of to good stories to tell. Mikes loved his friends and family and all the fun they had camping, cooking out, going to the Cardinal baseball games, Holiday World, and just “hanging out”. The family would also like to express profound gratitude for all the love and caring support that has been shown to Mike over the last two years, especially Joni & Marty Manfredo and their helpers for organizing the fundraisers, all the coaches and players that have rallied behind him, special friends Jay Pardus, Keith Oxford, Dave England, Holly and Mike Boyd, J.D. Ray, Edwina Kent, Tiffany Homoya for holding down the fort, understanding administrators and Board, and the wonderful doctors at the Siteman Center. Also, to all of our caring friends and community who have stood beside him every mile of this courageous journey, a BIG, and heartfelt thank you. He is survived by son Collin and daughter Sydney; sister Kathy Dallas and husband Mark of Marion, niece Marcy Dallas of Savannah, Georgia, nephew Brax Dallas of Marion, aunt Clarebel Gray of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mollie Chornak, aunts and uncles. Visitation for Mike will be Tuesday, August 4, 2015, from 4 – 8 pm at Marion High School Gymnasium. Services will be Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 11 am at Marion High School Gymnasium with Dr. Bob Dickerson officiating. Football Coach Kerry Martin will deliver the eulogy. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion is assisting the family with arrangements. For those who wish, memorials may be made to the Mike Chornak Student Athletic Scholarship Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelopes will be available and accepted at the High School Gymnasium or by mail to Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, 800 North Market Street, Marion, Illinois 62959.

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Michael Chornak

August 19, 1958 — August 2, 2015

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