At the wake people kept coming up to me and saying how proud my father was of me and my siblings. That got me thinking about how proud I am of my father and that is what I want to tell you about today. As many if not all of you can relate to as a small child my dad was Superman. He was a big, burly, loveable guy, an athlete, a soldier, and he was my dad, he was my hero. I learned of his humble beginnings. How he lost his father at age 7. How his mother who he loved dearly raised the 14 children of which he was the lucky number 13th and of which until a few days ago he was the last survivor. How he had to leave school to work to help support the family. I remember how hard he worked from his first job in a bakery where he was overworked and underpaid. He later worked in concrete and then at the dairy. And later to make ends meet for our family, he took other jobs including putting up aluminum siding and bartending. He always was a good provider. He was a good husband, a good father, and later a good grandfather and to many he was a good friend. I can still remember one night as relatively young child coming home late from some sort of family outing, perhaps visiting a relative. I pretended to be asleep in the car just so that I could feel his arms around me holding me carrying me into the house. I can still remember that night like it was yesterday and how good his strong arms felt around me and how secure I felt. He noticed when we got into the house that I was just faking, and he even said to my mom " He's not asleep. He is just faking" I imagine that he felt the bond that I felt with him at that moment and smiled his big as I did when I heard him say that. I remember my dad showing me how to play baseball and how to fish. One of my favorite things to do with my dad was to watch baseball games. He knew so much about baseball. He could tell you in infinite detail every aspect of what was going on in the game. One of the highlights of my life was being able to watch essentially the whole play-offs and the World Series with him last year and to see him enjoy his Cubs finally winning a World Series. I learned so much from him and not just baseball.Yes, I looked up to my dad, and as I got older I recognized more and more how my dad interacted with people. How loved he was by everyone. His great sense of humor, and how other people looked up to him for leadership and guidance. Even from those humble beginnings he rose to become the Teamsters Union president of Local 835. And probably for at least 45 years he was the sergeant at arms and was the driving force behind the American Legion Honor Guard. He officiated I'm sure thousands of those ceremonies for veterans and their families like the ceremony that was performed by the American Legion Honor Guard at the funeral home for him last night. That was a very emotional moment for me knowing how proud he was to do that for the veterans and their families. I have always aspired to be like my father to be respected and the leader and the one whom others turn to for guidance.And so, Dad I say to do today that you are still my hero and that I will greatly miss you as will the many others whose lives you have touched.

I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Frank was always friendly and kind to me for which I am grateful. He and Mary did an wonderful job raising some awesome children. Frank, may the road rise to meet you and the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and, until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the palm of his hand. Rest In Peace my friend.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.