Frank A. Ujka

Frank Anthony Ujka died at Ascension Alexian Brothers Hospital of heart failure on Friday, May 23, 2025, his wife Jean at his side. He had just received last rites. He was 89.

Born in Chicago on January 14, 1936, to Francis (Frank) Ujka and Frances Schumann Ujka, both immigrants from Bohemia, he was the youngest of five children. His father owned the American Fur Shop on Kedzie Avenue in Chicago. For high school, Frank was sent to an all-boys boarding school, but each spring he traveled with his mother by train to Florida, where he enjoyed a co-ed school. Those trips inspired a life-long love of that state, and he and Jean often vacationed there.

While attending DePaul University, Frank joined the Army ROTC. He completed basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, the summer between his junior and senior year. After graduation, he specialized in artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was in interviews with the CIA for a special assignment when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and the project was cancelled. He continued as a reservist, training at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. He was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant on April 20, 1969.

Frank married his first wife, Janet Pesek, on September 13, 1958. They had six children. Janet died in December 1988. Frank took up scuba diving to help him through his grief. He started with dive classes at the Elmhurst YMCA, joined a dive club, and spent many years exploring underwater worlds that fascinated him. He cherished the close friendships he forged in the dive club through the rest of his life.

For more than 30 years, Frank worked as a buyer for Sears, Roebuck, and Co. often traveling around the country to meet manufacturers and tour their facilities. He was one of the first to use a computer at Sears. After retirement, he worked for some ten years as a school resource officer at Glenbard North High School. He loved the kids, and they loved him back.

Frank fell in love with Jean Addante at first sight. They were married in June 1993. Their blended family brought Frank joy and earned him the nickname OOCH. Frank and Jean shared a love of dancing and travel. They enjoyed regular trips to Las Vegas, Tampa/St. Pete, Myrtle Beach, and Branson.

As a child, Frank had a pet duck, then pet crows. He credited them with his life-long affinity for birds. He could identify many by sight and sound. A nature lover, he enjoyed canoeing and fly fishing on Northern Wisconsin rivers and lakes. He was an avid flower gardener.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents; by siblings Sister Lillian Ujka, OSF (Joliet), Mary Ujka, and baby Frank Ujka, Jr.; by one child, baby Angel Ujka; and by his son-in-law Tom Sliger. He is survived by his beloved wife Jean Addante Ujka, his brother Joseph (Lillian) Ujka, his children Susan Ujka, Steven (Betty) Ujka, Sally Sliger, Sharon Champa, and Stan (Barbara) Ujka; his stepchildren Scott (Kellye) Pales, Chris (Candace) Pales, and Ann Marie Samaras (John Clarke); nine grandchildren: Ziva Larson, Stephen Larson, Sandra Larson, Elliott Sliger, Jordan Sliger, Erica (Scott) Moore (Champa), Sean Champa, Jacob Ujka, and Emily Ujka; seven step-grandchildren: Ashley Pales, Allison (Andrew) Tadych (Pales), Paige Kinser, Tommy Samaras, Tyler Samaras, Amanda Samaras, Trace Samaras, Nick Pales, and Brittany Pales; and one great-grandchild, Emma Champa.

Visitation will be at Salerno’s Rosedale Chapels, 450 W. Lake St. Roselle, IL 60172 from 5 until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June, 11. There will also be visitation hours between 8 and 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 12.

A memorial mass will be held at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 254 N. Wood Dale Rd, Wood Dale, IL 60191 on Thursday, June 12, at 10 a.m.

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are of more value.” Matthew 6:26