Lucian Frejlach

Frejlach, Lucian Jerome

Lucian Jerome Frejlach, 97, of Oshkosh, formerly of Illinois, passed away on February 7, 2014. Lou is survived by Marge Poeschl and her family, who all loved Lou as one of their own. Lou met Marge in Bonita Springs, FL, and has spent the past twenty years traveling the world with her, pursuing his passion for visiting foreign places with his best friend. Lou's incredible life is an inspiration to everyone he met. Lucian was part of a family of three brothers and three sisters living in Berwyn, Illinois. During the Great Depression the family started making chocolate confections in the basement of their family home on Highland Avenue. They branched out into ice cream which proved very successful resulting in the opening of several stores, three in Berwyn, one in Riverside and one in Des Plaines. The Frejlach brothers were always interested in airplanes and so it seemed natural that Lou became a test pilot for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, California. During the Second World War, Lou was part of the Military Transport Command, the United States Air Force, flying personnel and support missions around the Pacific Theater. After the war, Lou returned home to the family business, which had started serving food in their stores.

Lou bought a franchise for Big Boy Restaurants in Illinois, which he called the "Tops Big Boy" eventually having locations in Berwyn, Downers Grove, Aurora and other locations. After selling the franchise he served as a consultant to the restaurant industry as well as serving on the boards of banks and the Le Grange Park Hospital for many years. Lou remarked that he wanted to give back to his community since he had been the beneficiary of good public schools and institutions. His connection to California remained strong with Reed Aircraft in Los Angeles where pioneering work was done on automatic pilot controls for military and commercial aircraft. While in California, Lou developed raw land land in Fallbrook, which he made into avocado groves in one parcel and another tract was prepared for a housing development. During this time Lou also served as a consultant to his sister Loretta's and brother-in-law Frank Dvoracek's business, L&D Mfg. in Burbank, which was a plastic injection molding business. Lou continued to provide his guidance and support to the Dvoracek family when their children, Frank, Kathleen and Joseph started their own manufacturing operation, Three D Plastics, Inc. which continues to operate in Burbank.

The state of Florida provided a welcome relief from the harsh winters of Chicago, and Lou had a condo in Naples and then a lovely manufactured home in Bonita Springs to which he would travel each fall. Lou was a world traveler having visited all the continents except for Antarctica, which he admitted might be too much of a challenge even for an experienced traveler as himself. He had visited all the National Parks except for those created after he was no longer able to travel, maybe two or three ant the most!!!

During his long life, Lou rebuilt several aircraft; a T-6 Trainer, a P-51 Mustang, a Fairchild 24 H and a Cessna. He donated the Fairchild 24 H to the EAA, and it is on display at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh. His love of aircraft and of flying were just one of the many ways he will be remembered by those who knew him, worked with him and loved him.

Survivors include his special friend, Marge Poeschl of Oshkosh; daughter-in-law, Alba Frejlach, Bakersfield, CA; grandson, Lester Frejlach of Bakersfield, CA; step daughter, Mary Weyher of Evansville, IN; step granddaughter, Kathleen (Mark) Kiefer of Indianapolis, IN; step great-grandchildren, Josh Kiefer and Caroline Kiefer of Indianapolis, IN; nephew, Frank (Teresa) Dvoracek of La Canada, CA; nephew, Joseph (Judy) Dvorcek of Sun Valley, CA; nieces, Kathy (Tim) Trumbo of La Canada, CA, Jamie Modek of Willowbrook, IL, Patrice (Bernard) Oglietti of Ennis, MT and Grace (Peter) Grubb of St. Charles, IL. He was preceded in death by his first wife, June Frejlach on February 4, 1961; second wife, Betty Frejlach on April 26, 186; a son, Lucian Frejlach Jr. on April 13, 1990; a daughter, Lynda Frejlach on July 13, 2011 and a son, Jim Frejlach on May 17, 2006; and brothers and sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the St. Jude Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, corner of 6th and Knapp St. in Oshkosh with the Rev.'s Matt Simonar and William Van DeKreeke officiating. Burial will be in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL. A time of visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 12 noon until the time of Mass. A memorial fund will be established.

Fiss & Bills-Poklasny

Funeral Homes

Oshkosh

920-235-1170

www.fissbills

poklasny.com