Frank J. Kukuczka

Frank J. Kukuczka, Rockford IL, formerly of East Dubuque, IL died October 21, 2025, after a courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma. Memorial Mass will be held on November 3, 2025, at 11:00am at the Cathedral of St Raphael, Dubuque, Iowa. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 am until 11:00 a.m.

Frank was born July 26, 1948, in Mosinee, Wisconsin, oldest son of Agnes (Zywicki) and Frank Kukuczka. He attended and graduated from Mosinee Schools. Frank and Dianne met during high school. Frank attended Central Wisconsin Tech and completed an associate's degree in drafting. He moved to Dubuque to begin his job at John Deere. He was drafted into the Marine Corps in 1968. He married Dianne Schoen on May 10, 1969, at St Paul's Catholic Church in Mosinee. After completing basic training, he was quickly deployed to Vietnam. After being critically injured in an explosion, Frank spent 6 months at Great Lakes Naval hospital healing.

When he recovered, he returned working for John Deere began his family with Dianne. Frank worked at John Deere for 35 years and made lifelong friends there before retiring in 2001. Over the years, he coached his daughters' softball teams and was a volunteer hockey coach for Dubuque Youth Hockey and helped teach many high schoolers hockey and other "valuable" life lessons. He also volunteered for the Dubuque Fighting Saint as an off-ice official. He also was the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Association president for several years.

Frank was happiest fishing on a lake in Canada, Wisconsin or Minnesota. He made many trips with his brother-in-law and friends in search of the "big one". Later, he enjoyed weeks with family and friends in the Ely MN area. He loved sports, both playing and watching. There was not a single sport that he didn't watch--from Packers and UW football to Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers baseball, to random junior college curling matches. He watched it all. Frank also enjoyed hunting and being outdoors. He lived a full life and loved to laugh.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Dianne, and two daughters: Amy, with her daughters, Taniya and Mia Kukuczka, of Rockford IL and Sara and Tom Evers, with their children: Kris, Jack, Nathan and Elijah Evers, of Maryland Heights, MO. Frank was a beloved papa to his grandchildren with a silly joy of dad jokes and commercial repetitions.

He is also survived by 5 brothers: Dave (Terry), Wausau, WI, Steve (Vern), Minneapolis, MN, Jim (Kim), Mosinee, WI, Roy (Lori), Stratford, WI and Charlie, Kronenwetter, WI and his in laws, Tina and Tim Burns, Schofield, WI. Frank was uncle to 8 nieces and nephews Kory, Kara, Rob, Katie, Holly, Jenni, Jamie and Dan.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Agnes, two brothers, Mike Kukuczka and Ed Kukuczka, and sister-in-law, Denise Kukuczka and father and mother-in-law Herman and Marion Schoen.

Frank was not an easy man to care for, so we extend thanks to Cherryvale place, his various home care helpers, hospital staff, as well as his devoted wife. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to Blood Cancer United.

The family was assisted by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory. To share memories and condolences online, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.