Obituary of Frank Louis Kafka
Frank Louis Kafka, age 83, of Shorewood, formerly of Elmhurst, a good man and beloved husband of 59 years to Roberta Gore Kafka, passed away on Monday, January 22, 2024, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, due to cardiac, kidney, and pulmonary complications. He was born in Chicago, IL on September 11, 1940, the son of the late Frank and Vivian (nee Chihatny/Valenta) Kafka. Frank grew up in Berwyn, IL and was a graduate of Morton High School and Southern Illinois University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business that he completed after honorably serving in the U.S. Army.
Frank worked as a Credit Manager for Motorola in Franklin Park and retired from Jovan Cosmetics in Chicago before becoming president and owner of K’s Food & Liquor in Shorewood along with his wife Bobbie and their three sons.
In addition to his family, Frank loved many things: gardening, dachshunds, bowling, loons, eating Czech food, his sister-in-law Laurel Falco’s pound cake, loyal customers, his Phaeton Car Club buddies, the television shows “Jeopardy” and “All Things Great and Small”, boating at his cabin in the North Woods of WI and his river home in Ottawa, IL. He never really retired, though two broken hips slowed him down for a while. He still did the various business-required financial reports, et al. until last month.
Frank is survived by his loving wife, Roberta Gore Kafka; three sons, Frank C. (Chelly Robinson) Kafka, Eric J. (Carianne Kappel) Kafka, and Mark L. (Sharon Polowick) Kafka; his grandchildren, Adam, Frank and Cheyenne Kafka; and was the favorite brother of Joseph Kafka. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
He is preceded by his parents; his sister, Louise Kafka Reyna; and his nephew, Joey Kafka.
The following poem by James Whitcomb Riley aptly describes him;
A good man never dies--
In worthy deed and prayer
And helpful hands, and honest eyes,
If smiles or tears be there:
Who lives for you and me--
Lives for the world he tries
To help--he lives eternally.
A good man never dies.
Who lives to bravely take
His share of toil and stress,
And, for his weaker fellows' sake,
Makes every burden less,--
He may, at last, seem worn--
Lie fallen--hands and eyes
Folded--yet, though we mourn and mourn,
A good man never dies.
Funeral Services for Frank Louis Kafka will be held at 9:15 a.m., on Monday, January 29, 2024, from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, 60431, to Holy Family Catholic Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 209 W. Hoff Rd., Elwood, IL, with full military honors held under the auspices of the United States Army and the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, January 28, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad would be appreciated.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at ww.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.
