Obit: Zank, Frank Henry (1918 - 2018)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Zank, Stelloh, Miller, Wulf, Eddy, Kunze, Schmidt, Reynolds, Boon, Evanson, Suckow, Armitage, Koppert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) /2018

Zank, Frank Henry (25 September 1918 – 14 March 2018) With Flag

Frank Zank, age 99½, of Neillsville, WI died Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at the Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center in Owen.

Frank Henry Zank was born on September 25, 1918 in the Town of Pine Valley, Clark County, WI., the son of William and Emma (Stelloh) Zank. He attended Neillsville area schools and graduated from Neillsville High School. On May 1, 1943 he was united in marriage to Jeanette Miller at Scott Field Air Force Base in Illinois.

On March 3, 1942 Frank enlisted in the United States Army-Air Force for WWII. He became a link trainer, training pilots to fly with instruments in England. He served during the Normandy Invasion, the Northern France Campaign, the Ardennes Campaign and the Central Europe Air Offense. He received recognition as a link trainer as well as earning the European-African Middle Eastern theatre ribbon with silver battle star, three overseas service stars, a good conduct medal and four stripes with the rank of staff sergeant. After returning home he went to work at American Dairy Stores. In 1948, they took over the Zank family farm in Pine Valley. They moved to their current family farm in the Town of Grant in 1963.

He served on the board for the Evangelical Reformed Church in Neillsville before they merged with the United Church of Christ of which he was a member and served the church as a deacon. He was also a member of the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post #73 in Neillsville and was recently honored for his dedicated service to the US Army-Air Force on September 17, 2014. He was on the board of directors for the Neillsville Transport Coop and the Farmer’s Coop. He served on the school board at the Silver Crest School for many years and he retired, from farming, at the age of 70 and then started to bowl. His team name was “Frankies Rollers” and, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the United States Bowling Congress of Neillsville. Frank loved his Wisconsin teams, the Badgers and especially the Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed watching the Brewers and was inspired by the new Miller Park Stadium. He was an avid reader, especially of Zane Grey and politics. He also enjoyed bowling with his grandchildren, walking; cross-country skiing and he loved his family and loved spending time with them at the family gatherings, especially Christmas and getting that perfect Christmas tree.

He is survived by seven children, Linda (Stuart) Wulf of Elkhorn, Ron (Amber) Zank of Neillsville, Donna (Dennis) Eddy of Neillsville, LuAnne (Bud) Eddy of Burlington, Wanda (Mark) Kunze of Neillsville, Dale (Stacy) Zank of Neillsville, and Lori (Brad) Schmidt of Neillsville, 14 grandchildren, Greg Eddy, Lori (Ken) Reynolds, Randi (Nikki) Wulf, Clint (Heidi) Zank, Becky Zank, Todd and Travis Eddy, Joe (Laura) Kunze, Jenni (Jeremy) Boon, Mike (Beth) Zank, Olivia and Austin Zank and Dan and Dylan Schmidt, 15 great-grandchildren. One sister also survives Frank, Leona (Harold) Evenson of St. Paul, MN.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, a sister, Grace Suckow, an infant brother that died at the age of two and seven other brothers, Ed, Charles, Robert, Harold, Albert, Louis and Walter.

Funeral Services for Frank will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. Pastor Jacoba Koppert will officiate. Music will be provided by Eileen Zank, organist and Corrine Armitage, soloist. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery with Military Honors performed by the Neillsville Veteran’s Council. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday at the United Church of Christ.

Casket Bearers are his grandchildren: Greg Eddy, Randi Wulf, Lori Reynolds, Clint Zank, Becky Zank, Todd Eddy, Travis Eddy, Joe Kunze, Jennifer Boon, Mike Zank, Olivia Zank, Austin Zank, Dan Schmidt and Dylan Schmidt.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Frank's family with funeral arrangements.