DOUGLAS FRAKES

Douglas B. Doug Frakes, Waupaca/Madison, age 73, passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah. It was at that same hospital that Doug was born on February 2, 1936. He was the only son of the late Walter and Viola (Mayer) Frakes. Doug graduated from Neenah High School in 1954. Playing football was his greatest passion. After an outstanding high school career, he received a scholarship to play football at the University of Miami, Florida. After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dougs professional football career was cut short by a serious injury. Doug returned to Wisconsin and married his childhood sweetheart, Janet Burr, on August 20, 1960 in Neenah. In 1972, Doug started his own commercial construction company, CCI. A Madison-based company, CCI was instrumental in helping to develop the UW Research Park and many other well-known commercial buildings in Wisconsin. Some of those projects include Budget Theatres, New Concord Inn Hotels and TGI Fridays Restaurants. Doug took great pride in all his construction projects. His latest building venture was constructing assisted living facilities throughout Wisconsin. Over the years, Doug was building more than just buildings; he was also building friendships and relationships. It did not matter whether you were an employee, a business associate, or a contractor, Doug would treat all with kindness and respect. Many of Dougs former employees and business acquaintances remained close friends. Doug had a knack and a love for designing and building that remained with him in retirement . A few years ago, he fell in love with the beauty of the Waupaca Chain of Lakes. A lifelong boater, Doug spent the final years of his life on the pristine lakes of Waupaca doing what he enjoyed the most. He designed and built three beautiful homes on the Chain. Dougs family will always remember his innovative and creative mind every time we see his work. We will greatly miss his wonderful stories, his unique sense of humor, his wisdom and his unlimited kindness and generosity. Survivors include his wife, Janet; three children: Kelly (Jim) Pickarts, Florida, Tammy (Jim) Wacek, Madison, and Michael Frakes, Madison; three grandchildren: John Fink, Ethan Malofsky and Nicole Wacek; a great-grandson, Zachary Fink; and two sisters: Beverly (Jim) Coenen, Neenah, and Susan (Jim) Stelter, Algonquin, IL. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2009 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5701 Raymond Rd., Madison, with the Rev. Brent Campbell officiating. Family and friends may visit at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org or American Heart Association Midwest, 208 S. LaSalle St, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60604-1242. The family thanks the staff at Theda Clark Critical Care Unit for their care and kindness to Doug.