Frank D. Stevens III

Stevens, III, Frank D., 74, died Wednesday, July 11, 2007. A native Kansan and lifelong resident of Wichita, he was owner and President/CEO of the custom refrigeration business known as International Cold Storage. Frank graduated East High School in 1951 and enrolled at WSU where he earned his BA in business. He entered the US Army in 1956, serving in Germany for two years. Returning home to Wichita, he assumed responsibility for the small family company, known as Ice Cream Storage, due to his fathers sudden death. In the ensuing years, Frank developed that tiny business into an international corporation, building custom refrigeration for the fast food industry, hospitals, and schools. Along the way, countless ICS refrigeration units were given to food banks across the United States, including our own Wichita Food Bank. He sold the business to his employees and retired in 1992. Frank and his wife Marni were world travelers and also maintained seasonal homes in Port Townsend, WA, Scottsdale, AZ, and Durango, CO. They spent much of the summer in Port Townsend, WA and that is where they decided to become parade clowns. For the next ten years they “clowned around” from northern California, up the coast and into Canada. They were members of the World Clown Association. They were often used as Grand Marshalls, and won numerous trophies for their comedy act in parades in their collection of antique cars. They were known as “Frick Frack” and delighted in the happiness it brought to so many people. Throughout his life, and continuing during retirement, Frank remained actively involved in supporting the Wichita community. Special areas of interests included the Wichita/Sedgwick County Historical Museum, the Wichita Childrens Home, Botanica, the Wichita Art Museum, the Kansas Humane Society, The Augusta Historical Theatre, and the national organization known as Noahs Wish, which assists animals victimized by natural disasters. One of his greatest thrills was participating in bringing both Pavarotti and Domingo to Wichita for their 2003 concerts. He often told people “the evening with Pavarotti was the most thrilling night of my adult life.” Most recently, his interests focused on The Orpheum Theatre, the Eagle Valley Raptor Center, and what became his greatest passion, the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas. He helped to form the Boys and Girls Club Samba Band, in 2002, furnishing their instruments and uniforms, and continued to provide for the bands needs up to the time of his death. Frank had lived with heart disease for many years. When he and Marni returned to Wichita in 2000, it was due to the critical state his health had come to. After his doctors in Scottsdale advised getting his affairs in order, he told Marni, “its time to go home to Wichita to be with our friends”. Having been given a prognosis of two years, he credited the gift of an additional five years, to the care given him by Dr. Greg Boxberger of Galachia Heart Hospital, Dr. Ron Hunninghake of The Center, Dr. Bill Papineau of Associates in Psychology, and Dr. Jeff Hesse of Lakepoint Family Physicians. Preceded in death by parents, Frank and Deane (Chipp) Stevens. Frank is survived by his wife, Marni (Miles) Stevens; his children from a previous marriage, Dana and Maddy Stevens of Albuquerque, NM, Stephanie Stevens and Ridge Sampson of San Francisco, CA, Jeffrey and Kelly Stevens of Salt Lake City, UT, Kelsey Stevens of Topanga, CA, Zachary Stevens of Aspen, CO and Joshua Stevens of Santa Barbara, CA; brother, Dr. David and Jane Stevens of Bradenton, FL; grandchildren, Ferguson, Piper, and Teddy Stevens. Franks life will be celebrated at 4:00 P.M., Friday, July 20, 2007 at the Wichita Marriott East. It was Franks desire to establish memorials with the Eagle Valley Raptor Center, 927 N. 343rd Street West, Cheney, KS 67025 and the Wichita Boys and Girls Club Samba Band, 2408 E. 21st Street North, Wichita, KS 67214-2143. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.