Charles Frank



In Memory of Charles "Chuck" E. Frank

Charles Frank, 78, of Devils Lake, North Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2001, at Altru Hospital, Hospice Care Unit, Grand Forks, North Dakota.

A Memorial Service for Charles Frank of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was held Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Reverend David E. Birkeland officiated.

Military Honors were accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.

Music was provided by Mary Oehlke and Lynda Pearson.

Charles Eugene, son of Earl and Tillie (Borkowski) Frank was born on May 14, 1933, in Manning, Iowa, where he grew up and was educated, graduating from Manning High School with the class of 1951. He entered the United States Army in November of 1954 and was honorably discharged in September of 1956 serving his country stateside at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Chuck was united in marriage to Maxine Gessner on December 3, 1960, at Cando, North Dakota. They established their home in Devils Lake living, working and raising their family here for their 50 years of married life.

Chuck worked a variety of jobs including managing the local Standard Station and later the Uptown Texaco Station. Chuck was a member of the United Methodist Church and a life member of the Devils Lake Elks Lodge.

Chuck’s greatest passion was his garden. That was part of being a farm boy from Iowa. There really wasn’t anything he couldn’t grow, but he was always able to give away his bumper crop of corn and tomatoes and was able to keep Maxine busy canning, pickling and freezing the other vegetables. Being an Iowa farm boy also helped him become a pretty darn good mechanic and fix-it man. He also was a pretty good cook and was noted for his cookies and fudge.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Maxine; son Brian Frank and his wife Lori of Hoffman, Minnesota and daughter, Gretchen and her husband Todd Toso of Loveland, Colorado; grandchildren Kaia Maxine Frank, Tanner, Garrett and Taleah Maxine Toso; brothers, Gaillard Frank of California, Ron (Ginny) Frank of Indiana, and sisters, Loyce (Bruce) Mackey of Florida and Kay Frank of Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents and infant sister, Barbara.