Frank M. Haines
September 20, 1933 - December 10, 2018
        

Frank Merrill Haines, 85, was born to Roy and Phoebe (McNamara) Haines on September 20, 1933 in Caribou, Maine. In 1930 the population of Caribou ME was 7,248.  The day before Frank was born Eleanor Roosevelt came through town on her way to Canada.

Frank moved to Whitefish Bay from Caribou with his younger brother Carroll Dale Haines in 1949. It was a big move for the small-town boys from Maine.  Frank’s step-father Eric (Dutch) Klenzendorf owned a summer cottage on Okauchee Lake and this is where Frank would meet Barbara Grace Rush and as they say, the rest is history.  They married in 1957. 

After high school graduation Frank joined the U.S. Navy. He was active duty from June 1952 to June of 1956 (Korean War) and reserve until June 1960.  Frank shipped out of San Diego on the U.S.S. Vammen.  Frank was appointed Yeoman 3rd Class on the 16th of November 1955.  Frank was stationed in Japan.  Frank embraced the Japanese culture from eating his raw egg with soy sauce over rice with chop sticks to wearing Japanese traditional clothing when off-duty.

Frank had a number of careers during his working life, but the one he loved best was working for Blue Ribbon Sales, Inc. in Oconomowoc selling and delivering Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. Frank loved people and loved to serve them and this career put him in touch with both.  The friends and camaraderie from those days stayed with Frank for his lifetime, including his old boss Carl Patrinos and John Schmidt, John Brown, Rick Bach, others that have since passed.

In 1974 the tragic death of Frank and Barb’s first born brought Frank to a major life change. Frank quit drinking alcohol.  Frank enjoyed and was proud of his sobriety for 44 years.

Frank retired from The Carnation Company in 1992. He had a heart attack and did not believe he would live long…boy was he wrong!  He enjoyed vacationing in Door County with Barbara and later in New Lisbon, WI at their Presnell Ct. place near the Petenwell Flowage.  Frank also enjoyed his morning McDonald’s meetings where he and fellow retirees would debate & kibitz news and events of the day…he loved you guys !!!  Frank enjoyed spending time with his growing family and he was always busy, always working.  Frank loved work and he passed this love onto his children.  Thanks, Dad!

Frank leaves behind his wife of sixty-one years, Barbara. Frank’s memory will live on through the life he gave to his five children, James, Jeff (Geriann) Haines, John Haines, Kim (Todd) Jaeger, Kelly (Mike) Whaley, along with grandchildren Tom (Lauren) Haines, Chloe Haines, Nathan Haines, Dalton Haines, Sadie Haines, Lukas Jaeger, Drew Jaeger, Amanda Whaley, Abigail Whaley, Alexis Whaley along with great-grandchildren Andrew and Leo as well as nephews and nieces, Christopher (Tina) Haines and Paul (Tracey) Haines, Andrea (Russell) Frazier, Hilary Devlin, and Kamilla Carmignani and their families.  Frank also leaves behind his twin sisters, Jeanne (Wayne) Lestan and Sharon Darling of Massachusetts, and brother-in-law Lawrence Presnell (Yvette) and many other friends and family.  Frank was preceded in death by his son James Carroll Haines, his parents Roy (Jean) Haines, and Phoebe (Eric) Klenzendorf, brother Carroll Dale Haines, and sister-in-law Kathleen (Rush) Presnell.

Funeral Visitation will be held Saturday December 22, 2018 from 9am – 10am followed by Service 10:00am – 11:00am to be held at Dr. Martin Luther Church, 325 S. Main St., Oconomowoc. Service will be followed by a grave site prayer and military honors, followed by a 12pm lunch and fellowship at the Church.