Frank Stanley Kocik, 100

Published 10:37 am Monday, December 1, 2014

Frank Stanley Kocik, 100, of Austin, died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, at his home.

Kocik

Frank was born on Sept. 23, 1914, in Minneapolis to immigrant parents Julia Pendzimas and Michael Kocik. His family moved to a farm in Rusk County, Wisconsin, when he was “just a little guy.” Frank was schooled in a one-room schoolhouse until the eighth grade. At age 18 he began working at Minneapolis Tool and Die while attending Dunwoody College of Technology to become a machinist. During the war he served in the Air Corps in North Africa and Italy, repairing B-17, B-29 and B-24 bombers returning from their missions. After the war Frank moved to Austin and accepted a job as a machinist in the P9 Hormel plant in 1946, retiring in 1978. He married his sweetheart Julia Draus in 1948; together they raised five children: Donald, Duane, Margaret, Diane and Robert, and lived happily together until Julia’s passing in 2005. Frank passed away in his Austin home of 60 years, where he continued to read the newspaper, take walks, enjoy time with his family and bear witness to the beauty, wonder and difficulties of life, thankful and unafraid.

Frank is survived by his children: Donald (Lisa) Kocik of Weston, Florida, Duane (Barbara) Kocik of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, Diane (Peter) Moe of Bloomington, Robert (Daria) Kocik of Brooklyn, New York; grandchildren: Laura and Sam, Anne and Brian, Joe and Emily, Julia and Corey, Claire, Rachel, Andy and Julie-Marola; great-grandchildren: Gus, Cleo, George, Lorelai and Finn.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Julia; a daughter, Margaret Kocik; and seven siblings.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Fr. Dale Tupper officiating. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery with military gravesite rites performed by the Austin American Legion Post No. 91. Online Condolences-www.mayerfh.com.