Frank (Francis) Estrada

A Mass of Christian Burial for Frank (Francis) Estrada, 94, Lawrence, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 30, 2015, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Eudora, KS. Burial with a Military Honor Guard will follow at Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in Eudora. He died on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community.

He was born October 10, 1920 in Silao Guanajuato, Mexico, the son of Porfirio J. and Emilia Marmolejo Estrada. He resided in Eudora from 1924 to 1951.

Frank attended Eudora Parochial School, graduate of Eudora High School in 1940, enrolled at the University of Kansas and, with a break for World War II, graduated with the class of 1948.

Captain Estrada served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946. A D-Day Veteran in the European Theater of Operations and engaged in action from the Beach of Normandy, Central & Northern France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Active in the Battle of the Bulge and weathered the flying “Buzz” Bombs and the V-I & V-II rocket air raids over the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. In 1951 he was recalled to Active Military Duty during the Korean conflict as a QM Staff Officer to December 1953. January 1954 he separated from Active Military Service and was assigned to a Military Reserve Unit, he continued in the service as a U.S. Army Department Civilian assisting Command Officers at Hqs. U.S. Army Europe & Seventh Army in matters of Comptroller & Logistical support activities until October 1977.

With 34 years of service and 17 Decorations & Service Medals Frank retired in grade of GS-13 at Hqs. U.S. Army Europe & Seventh Army, Heidelberg, Germany. He resided in Europe from 1978 to 1982 in Menorca, Spain. In 1982 he returned to Lawrence, KS.

Other occupations: 1949 to 1951 Frank worked as an Office Administrator for a GM Auto Dealership. 1982 to 1997 duties included a Certified Kansas Real Estate Sales Person, a member of the Kansas Board of Appeals, and an Office Administrator for Cala Tirant Housing Association, Menorca, Spain.

Memberships: 1971 appointment by the Military Ordinariate of New York as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. A member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers, the United States Reserves Association, the United States Army Retired Reserves, the City of Lawrence Mechanical Board of Appeals, the Lion’s Club Mahon, Spain and a coach in the Spanish National League of Basketball.

Frank married Emma Voet on October 6, 1945 at Antwerp, Belgium. She was the first War Bride of the City. Other survivors include; two daughters, Emilia R. Drehman and husband Donavan, Bettendorf, IA and Anita P. Carlson and husband David, Lawrence; a son, Mario F. Estrada and wife Maria Jose, Menorca, Spain, seven grandchildren, Derriek, Michelle, Alexandra, Laura, Frank, Bailey, Hannah; and three great grandchildren, Luka, India, and Sawyer.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emma on March 2, 2011; twins, Mary and Joseph, 1946; Daniel H. Estrada 1974; and Jeff R. Estrada 2008; and three sisters, Jessie Ortis Vargas, Irene Alvarez, and Catherine Estrada.

Friends may call from 5 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 29th at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. A rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m.

The family suggests memorials in his name to the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery Maintenance Fund or to the charity of donor’s choice and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.