Franklin M. Pease

Frank was born June 11, 1923, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Charles and Marjorie (Pixley) Pease. He grew up in West Springfield, Massachusetts and graduated from West Springfield Mass. High School in 1941. He graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He was employed by Commonwealth Edison Co. for more than 34 years in many capacities, retiring as a rates administrator.

In 1939, Frank took a one-day excursion with his grandmother from Boston to Providence, R.I. where he witnessed the United States Atlantic Fleet doing maneuvers and became enamored with the Navy, wanting one day to join their military ranks. He did so on Jan. 4 1942, when he was inducted into the Navy at Newport, R.I. He served for 6 years during World War II as an electrician’s mate, first class on the U.S.S. Beaver, a submarine tender which was assigned to both the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and the European-African-Middle East Theaters, along with the U.S.S. Cree, a fleet-ocean tug, which was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and American Theater.

Frank married the love of his life, Norma Jane Koehler, Jan. 29, 1955 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL, and in 1956 he and Norma moved to Crystal Lake, where they raised their family.

Frank enjoyed golf, amateur radio and traveling with Norma throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Although he couldn’t carry a tune, he loved to sing and he could cut a rug on the dance floor, especially when he heard a big band tune, dancing to his favorite steps, the jitterbug. Frank was an avid storyteller capturing the hearts of many if they had a chance to sit a spell with him. In his sunset years, he wouldn’t pass up a chance to hug a friend or family member and tell them he loved them, advising others to do the same, because they would never regret it.

He was a member of Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ in Crystal Lake, The American Legion Post 171 of Crystal Lake and the Masons, Nunda Lodge No. 169 of Crystal Lake.

Frank is survived by his brother, Donald (Audrey) Clark of Pelham, Mass., his daughter Kathleen Pease of Crystal Lake, Ill., his daughter-in-law Nicci Pease of Palmer, Alaska, his son Thomas (Dawn) Pease of McHenry, Ill. and his daughter Susan (Tom) Kirstein of Germantown, Tenn., six grandchildren: Aurora (Sean), Jeremy, Kerri, Jacob, Zoe and Samantha; and one great grandchild, Aiden Michael.

He was preceded in death by his wife Norma, his parents Charles and Marjorie, his brother Charles, and son Michael Pease.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8pm on Friday, November 25 at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. Visitation will continue at 10 a.m. Saturday Nov. 26 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 485 Woodstock St. in Crystal Lake, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, JourneyCare Hospice, 405 Lake Zurich Rd., Barrington, IL 60010 or a charity of one’s choice.

For information call the funeral home at 815-459-1760. Online condolences may be made at www.querhammerandflagg.com.