Frank Mikolz

Frank Mikolz, age 75 of Cherokee, IA, passed away Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, IA. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2024, at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee. Pastor Philip Beisswenger will officiate. Burial will take place at a later date. Visitation with family present will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Frank Mikolz of Cherokee, Iowa, was born January 17, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the third child of Francis Mikolajczak and Katherine (Kravetz) Mikolajczak.

He attended SS. Peter and Paul Elementary School in Chicago and graduated from Thornton Fractional Township North High School in 1967. After military service, he received in 1981,the degree of Associate of Applied Science in Business Management from Triton College, River Grove, IL.

Following high school, Frank began his career in the US Postal Service in Chicago. This career was interrupted by his enlistment in the US Army. He served sixteen months in Germany before his deployment in March 1968 to Vietnam where he was a combat engineer. During this time, he became seriously ill and was removed to a hospital in Japan and further to Great Lakes Naval Hospital for recovery. He received a medical discharge in June of 1971. He resumed his career

in the postal service until his retirement in 2009 during which he worked positions from mail carrier to management in Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Iowa.

In 1971, he met and married LaVerne Rojek. To this marriage were born two daughters, Jennifer and Kimberly. They later divorced.

Frank was a people person, making friends and fostering relationships wherever he was. A friend said it best: “He never met a stranger.” He loved his coffee groups with “the guys”, monthly winter poker nights, movies, dinners out with good friends, and participation in several Cherokee Community Theater plays.

Frank was an exceptional dancer. In 2001, he met Jacquelyn Courtright at a singles’ dance. They danced their way into their marriage in 2010 and fourteen years beyond until his death.

His greatest joy was his family and particularly his two granddaughters, Hailey and Paige Bischoff, to whom he will always be Dziadzia. 

His passion for travel was ignited when he and Jackie traveled on a honeymoon cruise to Venice, Italy. Their travels continued throughout both the US and many European countries including Poland, the country of his ancestry.

Frank loved fishing! He awaited anxiously the annual trip to Ballards Resort on Lake of the Woods and in the interim enjoyed local trips with friends in his beloved boat.

He was an avid train enthusiast. From hitching rides as a boy on Chicago freight trains, he grew to enjoy rail excursions, visits to train museums, and model train setups at home.

Frank was loyal to the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Chicago White Sox, and occasionally to the Chicago Cubs.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his bothers Richard (and wife Pat) Mikolajczak and John (Jack) Mikolajczak. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Jackie of Cherokee, IA; his daughter Jennifer (Nick) Bischoff and granddaughters Hailey and Paige of Sauk Rapids, MN; daughter Kimberley Mikolz of Maple Grove, MN; sister-in law, Nancy Mikolajczak of St John, IN; nieces and nephews, Melissa (Andrea) Mikolajczak, Natalie Mikolajczak, Jack (Anessa) Mikolajczak and Ronald Mikolajczak, three grand nephews, one grand niece, and one great nephew.