Frank M. Bejcek

Frank M. Bejcek, lifelong Maramec area resident, passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at his home, at the age of eighty-five years eleven months and four days.

Frank was born on June 26, 1920 on a parcel of land that was homesteaded by his family during the land run of the Cherokee Strip. He was the son of Frank Joseph Bejcek and Emily Mary (Schlais) Bejcek. He was raised on the farm near Maramec and attended school in Hallett, graduating from Hallett High School in 1939.

After graduation, Frank went to Colorado and worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) building roads for a couple of years. He was the first person drafted in Pawnee County during World War II and was inducted into the service of his country in the United States Army on February 17, 1942. Upon completion of basic training, Frank attended Barrage Balloon School and Pipeline Construction School. He served in the 784th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company building roads and bridges in South France and the Rhineland from April 1944 to November 1945 and was honorably discharged on December 5, 1945. PFC Bejcek was award the following decorations and citations for his military service, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with two bronze service stars, American Theatre Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon.

Frank then returned to Oklahoma and was married to Elizabeth Ann Hawkins in Sedan, Kansas on September 22, 1946. Frank began working on the farm again for a couple of years before accepting employment as a carpenter in Tulsa in 1949. He worked as a carpenter in the area surrounding Tulsa for the next thirty years building and remodeling many homes. The couple had five children, Paul, DeeDee, Martha, Cindy and Frankie Jo.

Frank attended the Baptist Church and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Hallett in 1959. He loved spending time outdoors; especially in his garden and yard. He always raised a beautiful garden and had even put out plants this year.

Frank is survived by his wife of nearly sixty-years, Elizabeth of the home; four daughters, Deedee Bejcek of Maramec, Oklahoma; Martha and her husband, Paul Wiesendanger of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Cindy Bejcek of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Frankie Jo and her husband, Mike Turner of Stillwater, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Preston Wiesendanger of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Noah Wiesendanger of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Pamela and her husband, Jo Couri of Stillwater, Oklahoma and Michael Joe Turner of Stillwater, Oklahoma; a great-grandson, Daden Couri of Stillwater, Oklahoma and two brothers, Otto Bejcek of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Lewis Bejcek of Jenks, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Paul Bejcek; two brothers, Eddie and John Bejcek; and two sisters, Mary Bejcek and Anna Eubanks.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, June 3, 2006 at the Bethany Cemetery in Hallett, Oklahoma with Chaplain John Owen of Sojourn Care Hospice officiating. Burial will be under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Frank M. Bejcek at www.chapman-black.com.