Tribute

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing at age 88 of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather on February 13, 2015.

Frank will be remembered for his love of gardening, hunting and fishing, for his generosity, courage, impressive strength and mostly for his devotion to his family.  He is loved and cherished by his wife Jean of 62 years, his children Ken (Mai-Lin), Gerry (Liz) and Steve (Kristen), his eight grandchildren Laurel (travis), Katherine (Malcolm), Christy (Mitch), Jac-Lyn (Max), Ryan, Zachary, Tyrus and Isaiah and five great-grandchildren Rowan, Isabella, Eli, Mathew and Micah.

Born in Kozlowka, Poland in 1927, Frank was the fourth of five brothers.  As a young boy he experienced the hardship and danger of growing up in a country ravaged by war.  Frank witnessed the Warsaw uprising in 1944.  Captured by the German Army, he spent time at Auschwitz and Mauthausen concentration camps miraculously surviving while thousands did not.

In April 1945, Frank was liberated from Mauthausen by the US Army Black Panther Division.  Shortly thereafter, he joined the US-Polish Army and was hired as a private chauffeur for a Polish Major.  Frank was proud to wear a US army uniform and reached the rank of sergeant.  As a driver he accompanied the Polish major all over Germany and Austria visiting numerous sites including Hitler's summer home near Berchtesgaden.  He vividly recalled the Nuremberg War trials with the US tanks with manned machine guns.  Frank's war time experiences helped shape his character.  He saw people who selflessly gave their lives to others in difficult times.  This selflessness was a trait he would bring with him to his new life in Canada.

After leaving the army in 1949, Frank was given passage to go anywhere he wanted.  Without knowing anyone, he chose Canada because of his love for the outdoors and the prospect of a good job.  He lived first in New Westminster and worked as an auto-mechanic.  He became connected with the Vancouver Polish Community and it was at a Polish Dance where he met and soon married the love of his life, Jean (Bodlak).  The prospect of an idyllic coastal communty and steady, well-paying jobs brought Frank and Jean to Powell River in 1954.  He worked at the local paper mill as a millwright and welder for 37 years before retiring in 1992.  His strength and character were legendary among his coworkers.  It was in Powell River that he and Jean lived and raised their family of three sons and where Frank was able tp pursue his passions for gardening, hunting and fishing, passions he was lucky enough to share with his children and grandchildren, right until the very end of his life.

Frank had an amazing life, full of challenges, adversity, but ultimatly much joy and love.  Whether it was full recovery from Guillain-Barre Syndrome or a broken neck, he met all the challenges he faced with a characteristic strength and a mischievous twinkle in his eye.  We all feel lucky to have had him in our lives and are proud that we get to call him Dad and Grandpa.  The world was a better place because he was in it.

Thank you to the nurses in Emergency and ICU and special thanks to Dr. Schweitzer, Dr. Rojas and Dr Lymburner.

Zawsze bedziemy kochac I pamietaja.

(We will always love you)