Elek Ronaszegi

Elek Ronaszegi was born on December 14, 1928, in the town of Vecsés, Hungary, to parents Maria Scheib and Lajos Ronaszegi. Elek was the youngest of four children. He had two brothers, Lajos and Laszlo, and a sister, Marta.

His father worked for the Hungarian State Railroad, and the family later moved to the capitol city of Budapest. After graduating high school, he was accepted to the Semmelweis University of Budapest, School of Dentistry. However, shortly after the 1956 Revolution, Elek with his brother Laszlo, like many others at the time, fled Hungary. They emigrated to the United States and began a new life in New York City. Later, his sister, Marta also moved to the States.

Elek earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Columbia University. He then worked as a dental technician for many years. After retiring in 1997, Elek and his sister, Marta, moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan. Their nephew, Arpad, built a home for them in which they enjoyed many years of country living. Being in the fruit belt, Elek even picked up a new hobby: canning. Each summer, he canned many jars of plum jam, his favorite. He also liked recording and watching old Hungarian films. He had quite the collection.

Unfortunately, as the years passed, his mobility decreased more and more, and eventually he needed 24-hour care. Shortly after his sister passed away in 2020, Elek was moved to Caretel Inns, in St. Joseph, Michigan where he was looked after by a caring staff. He was visited regularly either virtually or in person by family members and several kind neighbors and friends. He was known for never turning down a sweet treat.

On October 17, 2022, he died peacefully at the age of 93. Preceding him in death were his parents and his siblings.

He is survived by his nephews, Lajos Ronaszegi (Aisa) of Budapest, Hungary; Arpad D. Ronaszegi (Ida) of Bluffton, South Carolina; Gabor Elek Ronaszegi of Budapest, Hungary; and five grand nieces and nephews (Oliver, Esztella, Martin, Annette and Karla).

Elek was a member of the Stevensville Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery. Memories may be shared online at www.allredfuneralhome.