Frank Rudolph Strano

Frank Rudolph (Rudy) Strano, 85 of Munster, IN formerly of South Chicago, IL passed away on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. Born in South Chicago on December 19, 1924, he was the son of Margaret (Nudi) Strano and Francesco Strano (from Sicily, Linguagleasa, Italy). He is survived by his step-son Wayne (Ramona) Capalby of Yorkville, Illinois, his two step-daughters Sandra (Larry) Woodard of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Louise Gifford of Boynton Beach, Florida; Grandsons Sean (Cheryl) Dacey, Atlanta, Georgia and Michael (Michelle) Dacey, The Woodlands, Texas; Great Grandchildren Cameron, Christian, Cali Dacey of The Woodlands, Texas and Jillian and Jansen Dacey of Atlanta, Georgia; half-sister, Carmella (late John) Sulek, half-brothers Anthony (Bonnie) Miresso and James (Jimmy) Miresso along with many nieces and nephews and great ones too. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Helen (Karaffa-Capalby) Strano, father Francesco Strano, step-father Tony Miresso, mother Margaret (Maggie) Strano-Miresso, half-brothers Dickie Miresso, Andrew Miresso and half-sisters Mary Ann (Miresso) Hough, Rose Mary Miresso, and Florence (Miresso) Piekarski. Visitation will be on Friday, August 27, 2010 from 3:00-8:00 PM with a prayer service at 3:30 PM at Kish Funeral Home 10000 Calumet Ave. (next to Fitness Pointe) Munster, IN and Saturday from 9:30-10:00 AM at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas More Church, Munster, IN. Entombment, Holy Cross Cemetery, Calumet City, IL. Frank (Rudy) was a PFC in the Marine Corp stationed in Norman, Oklahoma (Aviation Ordinance) during WWII. Upon returning to civilian life he became a Special Agent for Chicago Belt Railroad for 7 years then became a carpenter. He was a Member of Local Union 199 of the Carpenters of Chicago. He was elected first to Trustee of Local 199 for 17 years, then to Business Agent and finally to Business Manager for the Carpenters and Pile Drivers of Chicago until he retired in 1991. After retirement he pursued two loves, golf and flying. He soon qualified with the Golf-Smith Company of Austin, Texas to make golf clubs. As a hobby he made golf clubs and gave a lot of drivers to young men learning how to play golf and as legacy gifts to his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. For his love of flying he started at the age of 72 to take flight lessons for Private Pilots License at Lansing Municipal Airport in Lansing, Illinois where he became, and was loved as, a regular airport guy. He was a Lifetime Member in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, a Member of the Pirates and a Member of St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Munster, Indiana. His energy was boundless and he was known by his children as the ‚ÄúEnergizer Bunny‚Äù…always on the go, always building and always making things better for everyone. His battle with lung cancer began in 2004 . He \”fought the fight\” brilliantly defeating all odds. He will be sadly missed by all. Family request instead of flowers, contributions in his memory be made to Hospice of the Calumet Area, Inc., 600 Superior Avenue, Munster, IN 46321-4032(219) 922-2732.