Obituary: Frank Ward - Class of 1967

MADISON - Frank Ward, age 50, of Madison, died on Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at his home with his family by his side, after a 20 month battle with lung and liver cancer, Frank was born on March 27, 1948 in Boscobel, Wisconsin, the son of Forrest and Rosemary (Farrell) Ward. Frank graduated from Madison Central High School in 1967. He married Georgia Deegan on August 5, 1967 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Madison; Frank and Georgia would have celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary in 1998. Since October of 1987 he has been a bus driver for Madison Metro. He was a natural mechanic, and he loved the excitement of racing and all the many friends he made through the sport, In the early 1970s he helped his best friend, Bill Retallick, with his late model car, and from then on Frank got into racing himself. From the early 1980s and into the mid 1990s he won many features at the Jefferson, Columbus and Oregon Speedways. In 1993 he won the Wisconsin State Championship in the Road Warrior Division. He quit racing in about 1994, but continued to go with his buddies to races in other states. Frank loved spending time at his place up North. He enjoyed hunting and being outdoors, feeding deer; turkey and other birds. Frank spent many weekends with his family at this special place. He dearly loved his granddaughters, each of whom was the apple of his eye. He is survived by his wife, Georgia Ward of Madison; a daughter and son, Angie Ward and Eric Ward (with his friend, Teri, and her daughter, Alexis), all of Madison; his granddaughters, Amanda Anderson, eight years old, and Chelsey Anderson; five years old, both of Madison; and a grandchild soon to be born; his mother, Rosemary Ward of Madison; three brothers, Duane (Karen) Ward of Middleton, Tim (Colleen] Ward of Cottage Grove, and Brad Ward of Madison; a sister, Brenda Gulseth of Madison; his step-grandmother, Elizabeth Glassmaker of Boscobel: brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lynn (Mike) Doyle of Madison, Vivian (Bill) Schmelzer, also of Madison, and Nancy Czubin of Milwaukee; nieces and nephews, Kim, Kelly, Derek, Steven, Lisa, Jennifer, Samantha, Chad, Chrystal, Brian, Jackie, Jason and Nicole: two great-nieces, Megan and Madelyn; along with aunts and uncles, and other relatives and good friends. Frank was preceded in death by his father, Forrest Ward on October 16, 1997. The family gives thanks to all the supervisors of Madison Metro for the continuous support they gave Frank, and special thanks to Dick, Mack, Ron, Phil, Jeff, Kurt, Tom, Darrell, Lucy and Mary for their many visits, phone calls and cards. The family also wishes to thank his many friends and co-workers and their families for all of their support during this difficult time. Special thanks also to the doctors and nurses at University Hospital for their compassionate care and kindness given to Frank; to his physician, Dr. Joan Schiller at University Hospital, and to his nurses, Teri, Mary and Hollis from the Oncology Clinic, and the nursing staff on B6/681 at the hospital, Wendy, Kristen, Cheryl and Rebecca. Thanks also to the UW Home Health Care and the two super ladies, Denise and Mary. All was greatly appreciated by Frank and his family. "Words cannot express our deepest, heartfelt thanks to one and all We cannot thank you enough." Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m, on Monday, May 4, 1998 at the GUNDERSON FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Avenue. Burial will be in Sunset Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 2:00 p.m; until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, May 3, 1998 at the funeral home.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on May 1, 1998. Submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968).