Duane Frank

Duane “Tom” Ira Frank was born to Ira and Irene (Metcalf) Frank on September 12, 1929 into a family that consisted of 11 siblings, each given a nickname by their dad, Ira. Duane’s nickname was "Tom" from the beginning of his 83 years until he left for his trip to Heaven on March 6th 2013. Tom was born in the Town of Sampson, Chippewa Co. He was schooled in Highland and New Auburn. In 1948, he and two buddies, Francis (Sonny) Robey and Eugene (Gene) Rhyner joined the US Army and were sent to the hell of Korea. Tom and Sonny came home in 1951, Gene, as yet, has not been found. Given an automatic one year extension he went to cooking and baking school at Camp Atterbury and electrician school.

He met his future wife B. Jean Bickel and married her on June 3rd, 1952. Tom worked for Madison Silo and April of 1953 moved to Rockford, IL where he was employed at Sundstrand Aviation for nearly 20 years. Being off work due to a strike he got the itch for good old Wisconsin. So the house was put up for sale and sold immediately and homeward bound came the family in June of 1971. He worked for Tom Plummer Construction, Huffcutt Precast, eventually buying and operating the Island Lake Sport Shop until a stroke in Dec. 2005. Everyone should remember "Hey, I've got a ticket to sell you!" He was a member of Mudbrook Sportsman Club, VFW-Weyerhaeuser, American Legion-Bruce, and Bloomer Rod and Gun.

He is survived by his wife, Jean of 60 yrs and 9 months; 3 sons: Thomas (Sharon), John (Dorothy), James (Donna); 1 daughter: Cathy Jo (Larry) Tice; Daughter-in-law Dorri (Joe) Waldera; Brothers: Verdon “Jim” and Goldene, Claire “Wop”, Wayne “Jack” and Linda, Dale “Shorty” and Ken; Sisters; Geraldine “Pooey”, Ardis “Tiny” and Charles Frenz, Loris “Lolo” and Gerald Seibel; 17 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; Jason (Amanda), Kaitlyn and Kaileigh, Derrick (Heidi), Zoee and Henry, Jennifer (Tony) Teagan, Syann, Skyler and Jordyn, Charles (Rachel), Rylan, Aden(Chrissy) Lacey, Haylee and AJ, Kathy Jo (Aaron), Joshua, Gabriella, Jacob ( Steph), Mackenzie, Morgan and Lexi, Janelle, Kaiden,Gabriel and Liddiah, Danielle ( Adam), Caelyb. Amanda (Micheal), Alexus and Kasen. Trista (Jesse), Haiven, Amy (Marty), Camden. Joseph, Ketsia and Ariah. Naomi, Andrea and Andrew.

He was preceded in death by one son: Scott, parents: Ira and Irene; Brother: Arlyn “Bunk”; Sisters: Lillian “Beans” Novak and Joyce “Rosie” Vetterkind and in-laws: Louis and Myrtle Bickel.