Beloved pastor of Mother of Good Counsel Parish in Hazard, KY from 1980 to 1993, Fr. Rock Travnikar, OFM died on Christmas Day at Rocky Creek Village in Tampa, FL. While not well for some time, his death came as a surprise to his Franciscan friar brothers. He was 71 years old.

Born on December 11, 1945, to Joseph and Caroline(Smith) Travnikar in Madison Heights, MI., Fr. Rock was one of six children. He entered the Franciscans as a candidate at St. Joseph Brothers' School in Oldenburg, Indiana, in 1965, professed vows in 1968 and was ordained to the priesthood on November 14, 1976. Besides his pastoral work, Fr. Rock served variously as Vocation Director, Provincial Councilor for nine years, and in retreat work and as a university chaplain. He was named Director of Ministry at Rocky Creek Village, a retirement community in Tampa, FL in 2009.

Rock was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joseph, and sister Carolyn Hunt. He is survived by his brother, Frank, his sisters Dorothea Resek and Betty Jozlin, and a loving extended family. His friar classmates recall his joy in playing his button-style Slovenian accordion and his humble pride when his book, The Blessing Cup , a book of rituals for families and groups, was published in 1979.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated on January 5, 2017 at St. Lawrence Church, 5225 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa, Florida at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial is on January 10, 2017 at Transfiguration Church, 25231 Code Road, Southfield, Michigan at 10 a.m. followed by interment in the friars' plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Memorials may be made to FriarWorks, 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.