Frank Mikulec

Francis S. Mikulec, 90, known as "Frank" among his friends, passed away peacefully in Mequon, WI on January 3, 2021. He was born on October 25, 1930 in Milwaukee, WI to Joseph S. and Mary K. (Glocka) Mikulec. Growing up he participated in the Slovak Catholic Sokol Drum and Bugle Corp and track. At Messmer High School he met his future wife, Joan (Amann). They married on November 4, 1950. Frank worked at American Motors, and then decided to become self-employed, opening Airway TV, and Vista TV, finishing his career as a Service Manager at Taylor Electric. From an early age he started working, first as a shoe shine boy, then as a manual pin setter for the bowling alley at North Avenue Auditorium where he picked up his love of the sport. One of his proudest accomplishments was earning the right to represent Wisconsin in 1961 in the BPAA All-Star Tournament in San Bernardino, California after qualifying in the 1960 BPAA All-Star eliminations. One of his favorite pastimes was fishing, starting with catfish in the Milwaukee River, northern trout fishing in various lakes and flowages in northern Wisconsin, and getting up early to fish Lake Michigan for chinook salmon. As a snowbird, after his retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed teaching country line dancing at Paradise Point in Naples, Florida. Throughout his life he loved woodworking and repairing and remodeling his home and cottage. What his children learned from Frank was, "Measure twice, cut once." Frank is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Joan, his children, Kathleen Bay, Gary (Cathryn) Mikulec Susan (Scott) Stonier and Lee (Lora) Mikulec, and sister, Emily Pinkowski. He is also survived by his grandchildren Stephanie Bay, Jared (Bridget) Bay, Megan (Jeffrey) Frank, Jennifer (Matthew) Mayrl, Daniel (Kristin) Mikulec, Lauren (David) Esarey, Thomas Stonier, Jason (Erin) Mikulec, Belinda (Chad) Vollstedt, Phoenix Mikulec, Aden Barrett, and Ian Mikulec. He is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren: Kathryn, Mackenzie, Molly and Lucy Frank, Griffin, Emelia and Shane Mayrl, Oliver, Elijah, and Owen Mikulec, Iyla, Stella and Malcolm Fine, Decker Vollstedt and two future great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, MaryAnn McCarthy and Ann Filo. A Mass of Christian Burial with a celebration of Frank's life will be held at a safer time for all of us.