- Date Of Birth: April 20, 1939
- Date Of Death: March 23, 2020
- State: Colorado
Frank Joseph Prochaska died Monday, 23 March 2020, from causes unrelated to coronavirus. Born on 20 April 1939 to Frances Machacek and Joe Prochaska in Utica, Michigan, Frank was a farmer by birth and in his heart. Growing up in a Czech immigrant community, he thrived in the music, rochlicky, dances, language and camaraderie. His memories and stories were infectious.
First in his family to graduate from university, Frank attended Notre Dame, and became an Air Force Officer upon graduation. While stationed in England, he met Elfi Wortmann from Switzerland. Elfi and Frank were married in Switzerland, and raised their family in Germany and Colorado Springs. A management engineer for the government, Frank later became a leadership professor at UCCS and CTU.
Frank was a true renaissance man – a designer by training, an artist by nature; he was a musician, a painter, a cartoonist, a builder and a teacher. He loved the outdoors, could fix and build anything, invariably adding a little flair to make it beautiful. Always ready for an adventure, whether ‘rafting’ on the pond or ‘driving’ the Model A, nobody could make his grandchildren and children laugh the way he did.
Frank is survived by his wife Elfi, his daughters Gabi (Scott Desmarais) and Steffi (Patrick O’Malley), his grandchildren Francesca, Alexei, Elisabeth, Verena, Andreas, Katja, his brother Mike, sister Judy, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his brothers, Joe and Bill.
