Frank E. Nasser

Frank was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to Essa and Tuffaha Nasser on June 14, 1926. Frank grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana with his five siblings and many cousins, aunts and uncles. Frank married the love of his life Mary Louise Brown on June 29, 1952 in Terre Haute. Mary Lou preceded him in death in 2010.

Frank attended Northrop Aero Institute in Hawthorne, CA and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in June 1952. Frank earned his Professional Engineer license in Indiana in June 1960. He worked for 34 years for Allison Gas Turbine Division of General Motors, retiring as a Senior Gas Turbine Design Engineer in 1986. He returned to Allison and Rolls Royce as a Contract Design Engineer for nearly 17 years before his final retirement in 2004.

Frank was a veteran of the United States Air Force nearing the end of World War II from March 1944 to July 1946. He served as left blister gunner on B29’s with a tour of duty in Erlangen, Germany. Frank noted he saw no combat nor was he ever shot at. Frank was honored to graduate from Purdue University with the assistance of the GI Bill.

Frank and Mary Lou were members of Speedway Christian Church in Speedway, Indiana. They loved dancing, playing card games including gambling at the casino, and taking cruises around the world. Frank’s favorite cruise was traveling down the Panama Canal. Frank also enjoyed his garden, producing delicious tomatoes every summer, as well as photography, taking pictures of his family and friends. Frank and Mary were quite the couple on the dance floor at the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and the Speedway Moose. In his later years after Mary Lou’s passing, Frank continued to enjoy many Friday and Saturday nights dancing and playing tic-tac-lucky with his wonderful friends at the Speedway Moose. He called himself and Mary Lou’s sister Charlene and her husband Tom Highsmith the “three amigos” and they enjoyed each other’s company for several years following Mary Lou’s death. Charlene and Tom both passed away in 2018.

Frank and Mary Lou adored their three grandchildren: Caroline, Katie and Courtney. Frank often traveled to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with his son’s family and to California for Christmas with his daughter’s family. Frank was so proud to say a prayer at Caroline’s wedding in 2016, and everyone was amazed with his enthusiasm and skill on the dance floor at her reception! The family was blessed to have four generations when Caroline’s son Noah was born in 2018, and Frank absolutely cherished his great-grandson.

Frank’s birthday, June 14, is Flag Day. Starting in 1976 with the United States’ bicentennial celebration, Frank painted a flag on the garage door of the family’s residence on Maplewood Drive in Speedway. He updated the flag over the years, and it became a landmark for people traveling down Maplewood Drive.

Frank is survived by his daughter Leslie Nasser Yewell (Rob) of Walnut Creek, California, and Frank “Jay” Nasser Jr. (Paula) of Orlando, Florida; grandchildren Caroline Chui (Kevin), Courtney Yewell and Katie Nasser, and great-grandson Noah Chui. He is also survived by his niece Andrea Robideaux, who spent many fun times with him, her husband Clark and their children Reid and Sara. Frank was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: David, Rachel, Lillian, Mary and Jeannette.

Visitation will be at Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 700 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, on Saturday, November 6, 2021, starting at 11 am with services following at Noon. He will receive military honors. A luncheon reception at Crown Hill will follow the burial.

Memorial donations in Frank’s honor may be made to Moose Charities, 155 S. International Drive, Mooseheart, IL 60539-1100. Make checks payable to Moose Charities Inc. noting Frank Nasser’s name on the check. To donate to the Moose Charities via credit card, go to their website or call 630/966-2200. Donations may also be made to Speedway Christian Church where Frank and Mary Lou were members for many years. The address is 5110 West 14th Street, Speedway, IN 46224.

The family of Frank wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the Bridge at Westside Garden Plaza, his home for the past 13 months, Grace-at-Home for his recent medical care and Transitions Hospice – all of whom made Frank’s final days comfortable and were so helpful to him and his family. Frank was also a patient of Dr. Michael Barbara for many years before moving to assisted living in 2020.

As many have noted, including one of Leslie’s friends upon Frank’s passing, Frank’s incredible devotion to Mary Lou and his family set a high bar and has earned others who exemplify this behavior with the honor of being “Frank-like.” To quote Tina Turner‘s anthem, Frank was “Simply the Best” and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.