Francis Robert Frank Aksamit

Aksamit, Francis Robert “Frank”, left this world peacefully on April 13, 2012 attended by family, at the age of 89. Frank was born in Kansas City Missouri in 1922. During the Depression the family moved to the family farm in Rooks County, western Kansas and lived there during the dust bowl years, which Frank described as the “darkest of times” save for the nightly radio shows from NY on the family radio. Frank attended school in a one room country school as a young child walking five miles each way and wearing shoes that he resoled regularly with tire rubber. He later attended high school at Palco Kansas, which was a 14 mile trip each way riding the family horse. Frank had a life-long interest in all things scientific, mechanical and historic and as a kid constructed radios and a windmill wind charger. He also worked on cars and maintained the farm implements on the family farm. These interests would follow him for his life, including helping his sons assemble the electronic kits featured in Boys Life and his old car hobby. After high school, he attended college at Fort Hays State but did not finish and later enrolled in electronic school in Topeka Kansas prior to World War II. Upon graduating electronic school, his first job was teaching radio theory to GIs in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1942 Frank married his wife of almost 70 years, Becky, who survives him. Shortly after his and Beckys marriage, Frank was drafted into the US Army Signal Corps. His WWII duty stations were as a radar instructor at an army base in Florida, then later radar school in New Guinea and finally service at Clark Field in the Philippines until the war ended and his return home in 1946. After the war and living in Kansas City for three years, Frank and Becky moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1949 where they started a home improvement business in 1952 known as All Weather Products. Frank and Becky had three children, two of whom are surviving. Frank continued in the home improvement business as well as commercial real estate development business with his best-friend and brother-in-law, Gilbert Boettcher, until his retirement in 1982. He was a director on the Board of the Better Business Bureau for over 20 years and after retirement served as President of the Wichita High 12 Club and Retired Professional and Businessmen Club of Wichita. For over 50 years he was active in Masonic work and as a degree worker and funeral ritual presenter in the Scottish Rite. In 1985 he was awarded Inspector General 33rd degree in the Scottish Rite Masonry, of which he was extremely proud. For over 20 years he was a trustee for the Shrine and Scottish Rite Childrens Fund. In 1970 Frank and Becky became interested in antique cars, which was a hobby and interest Frank pursued until death. During that time they owned and restored over 30 antique cars, several of which now reside in museums, including a 1925 Chandler and rare Cadillac convertible. Franks favorite car was a 1929 Pierce Arrow coupe that was regularly featured in local Wichita parades. This hobby also led to Becky starting a long time and successful antique car literature business that helped pay for Franks old car hobby, the kids college and their frequent trips to old car swap meets throughout the United States. In connection with his old car hobby, Frank was President of the local Horseless Carriage Club and a director of the Classic Car Club. Since Franks retirement, Frank and Becky traveled to Europe numerous times and various other foreign countries, including visiting his ancestral home in Czechoslovakia as well as visiting Australia, where Frank was hosted by many enthusiastic Aussies after they learned of his service in the South Pacific during WW II. Both Frank and Becky were active members in several Shriner groups and have served on numerous boards at their church, Plymouth Congregational Church. Franks proudest accomplishments were his long and loving marriage to Becky, his relationships with family and numerous friends and his reputation as an honest and compassionate human being. Frank is survived by his loving wife, Becky Aksamit, his daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Ed Sinayi, his son and two granddaughters, Roger Aksamit and Becky and Lizzy Aksamit, his step granddaughter, Michele Sinayi Hensley and her two children Joseph and Isabelle as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Frank is preceded in death by his youngest son, Jon Alan Aksamit, who died in 2007, and by his parents, Frank and Ida Pearl Aksamit. Frank was an only child. In lieu of flowers Frank requested that donations be made to the Wichita Consistory -Midian Shrine Childrens Fund, 332 East First, Wichita, Kansas, 67202. Funeral service is 10:00 am Friday, April 20 at Plymouth Congregational Church. Downing and Lahey East Mortuary. Mr. Aksamit will be in state Wednesday evening till 9:00 PM and Thursday from 8:00 AM till 9:00 Pm at Downing Lahey East Mortuary.