Francis "Frank" Zupan

On August 31, 2023, Frank (76) took to the heavens for his final solo flight to be with our Lord with his devoted daughters by his side. Frank was born in Antigo, Wisconsin on January 29, 1947, he was the second youngest of five boys. Growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm in Deerbrook, he attended Antigo High School where he met and fell in love with Barbara Bula, they would later marry in 1968. His youth was spent in Deerbrook until he enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating high school and thereafter, he and Barb set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Frank enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1967. After completion of tech school, he was ordered to deploy to South Korea. Upon the completion of his deployment, he was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. Frank then progressed onto becoming a mechanic of various specialties which then led him into pursuing his love and passion for flying. During their stay in Montana, Frank and Barb started a family where they welcomed two beautiful daughters, Kelley (1968) and Diana (1971). Throughout his time in Great Falls, while raising a family with Barb, Frank saw fit to pursue a varied number of hobbies. He became a very skilled pool player, played multiple instruments for several bands, was a very avid golfer, faithfully followed the Green Bay Packers and started taking piloting lessons which later would lead him to the notable achievement in obtaining his private pilot’s license upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1971. Although Frank and Barbara later divorced in 1976, they would go on to remain very close friends until the time of her death in 2017. Frank lived in many different cities and traveled the world doing what he loved, being a pilot. In 1999 Frank retired from being a pilot to pursue other avenues in life. He met Cheryl Kline while living in Connecticut, where they married in 1995, and later moved to South Carolina in 2000. During that time in South Carolina, life led him to continue his love of music while continuing to enjoy his life with Cheryl. Frank and Cheryl would later divorce, but true to who Frank was as a very lovable man, they too stayed very close friends. Cheryl remained a very important part of Frank’s, as well as his family’s life up until his death and traveled to Montana to be with his family upon his death. One of Franks many loves, of which there are far too many to list, was to travel to Montana in the summer months to spend time with his local friends down at the Office Bar in Vaughn, as well as to always ensure he got his haircut from his longtime friend, Jerel . If Frank was around, people would always be having fun as he had the innate ability to make people feel happy, always laugh and have a good time. In 2009, Frank had a massive stroke, but true to his nature of being a fighter, he battled against the odds and regained his health enough to walk and even start playing pool again. Some years later the strokes reoccurred, and Frank was forced to continue the battle for his life. After winning his battles, once again, he remained independent and very happy in his life for many years. In the spring of 2023, he decided to make the trip back home to Montana to be with his family. Frank is survived by his daughters, Kelley Grubb and Diana (Sam) Heinert of Montana; five grandchildren, Magen and Tanner Grubb, Ashley DeBolt, Matthew (Katy) Heinert and Miranda (Mike) Fraser all of Montana; five great-grandchildren, Brayden “Buster” DeBolt, Madilynn and Karly Cooper, Elizabeth Fraser and Rhett Heinert all of Montana; brothers, Jack (Barb) and Roger of Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Irene of Yakima, Washington; many nieces; and nephews and honestly so many friends in so many states it would be impossible to list. If you knew Frank, even for one minute of your time, you remained and were considered to be a long-time friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Marcella and brothers, Joe, and Chuck. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel (1410 13th St South).