With great sadness, the family of Frank S. Kish (formerly of Masontown, PA) announces his passing on December 7, 2024, at his home in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Frank was born in Gates, PA on January 12,1934 to Hungarian immigrant parents Jozsef Kish and Elizabeth (Kilo) Kish. He learned to become resourceful at an early age taking on odd jobs including selling newspapers during the War, working on an ice delivery truck, and spending summers picking tobacco in Connecticut with his mother and brother following the death of his father when Frank was 12 years of age.

In his youth, he was well known as an exceptionally talented baseball player, especially in the Fayette County competitive league. He excelled as an infielder and power hitter for Pal’s Club Baseball Team. However, his baseball career was cut short by a knee injury sustained while playing ball.

Following graduation from German Township High School, Frank eventually moved to Chicago to work. He responded to a help wanted ad in the paper seeking workers for the Eisenhower Expressway construction project. That job began a decade’s lengthy career in the construction industry as a civil engineer. Additional projects he worked on include the Sears Tower, O’Hare Airport expansion projects, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi Lab, and McCormick Place, among many others. His last project before retiring in the mid-1990’s was White Sox Park/US Cellular Field. Frank also worked as the owner of Speed’s Pizza in Chicago and J&L Sporting Goods in St. Charles, IL.

In 1957, Frank met his future wife when he was set up on a blind date with Lois Capanna. They married on June 25, 1960, at St. Mary’s Church in Leckrone, PA. Together, they had two children, Laurie and Joseph. They celebrated their 61st anniversary shortly before Lois passed away in October 2021.

His favorite place to be outside of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Chicago, was the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana where he co-led pack trips for many years.

Throughout his life, he went out of his way to help others, especially young people who struggled with life. He was first to join the neighborhood kids for a game of wiffleball or decide it was time to get an ice cream cone. He coached his children’s baseball and softball teams, was a boy scout leader, and was eager to pass along his love for fishing and hunting to others. His playfulness, humor, nonjudgemental manor, and wisdom was a draw for friends of his children as well as neighborhood kids, many of whom considered him as a father figure.

After his retirement in the mid 1990’s, Frank could be found turning pens, carving eggs or working on his 1932 Model-T, or watching White Sox or Pirates baseball, or Steelers football. More than anything, he loved sharing his love for life with friends and others he met along the way.

He is survived by daughter Laurie (Eric) Garza of Austin, TX, and son, Joe Kish of Wheaton, IL, brother John (Martha) Kish of North Royalton, OH, sister-in-law Gloria (Mark) Bowers of Point Marion, PA, beloved nieces and nephews, and many extended family members, friends, and care givers. In addition to his parents and wife, he is predeceased by his sister Elizabeth (Liz) Pokorny, and in-laws Michael Pokorny, Bonnie Capanna and Carol Sue Capanna Glassie. He is remembered for his strength, resilience, and humor amidst life’s curveballs.

A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, May 3 at 10:00 am at St. Francis Paris in Masontown, PA. Burial to follow at Mt. Moriah Baptist Cemetery in Smithfield. Arrangements by John S. Maykuth Jr. Funeral Home, Masontown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Frank can be made to: Fayette County Community Action Agency, www.fccaa.org, or Helping Hands Ministry, 14 South Main St. Masontown, PA 15461.