Obituary: Frank J. Oliva, Jr. - Class of 1934

 MADISON/ WESTPORT/ SUN PRAIRIE  - Frank J. Oliva Jr., age 95, of Sun Prairie, passed away on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Meriter Hospital.He was born on Sept. 8, 1916, the son of Frank and Calogesa (Greco) Oliva. Frank grew up in the Greenbush area and graduated from St. Joseph School in 1930 and entered Madison Central High School where he played football and graduated in 1934. He graduated from UW-Madison with a B.A. degree.

Frank served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II. He married Mabel E. Halverson on May 1, 1943, in Huntsville, Ala. He worked in the accounting and sales department for Scanlon and Morse Company and the engineering department for the City of Madison. Frank retired as a real estate agent for the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation. For many years, he co-operated a restaurant and tavern business in the city of Columbus, with his son-in-law. Frank also worked as a real estate broker, maintaining and managing several apartment homes. He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, actively volunteering as an usher. Frank was also a member of the Madison Elks Club, Eastside Club and the Italian Workmen's Club. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. Frank enjoyed acting in plays, golfing, traveling, hunting and fishing, but most of all he loved dancing. He was also an avid Badgers and Packers fan.

Frank is survived by his son, Duane (Kelly) Hauser of Marshall; son-in-law, Dewey Snart; grandchildren, Dwight (Linda) Carpenter, Debra (Stanley) Benzine, Dale Carpenter, Mike (Shirley) Hauser, David Hauser, Karen (Randy) Knox, Sandra Windau and Donald Snart; and cousin, Leonard (Susan) Greco. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel; his parents; daughters, Gwendolyn Snart and Elaine Carpenter; grandchild, Brian Hauser; and sisters, Catherine Oliva, Ann Mazzulla and Rose Holmes.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 4, 2012, with Monsignor Charles Schluter presiding. Entombment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2012, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 8317 Elderberry Road, Madison, WI. 53717. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 1, 2012 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)