LEWISVILLE – Frank Hummel, of Rushville, died quietly after sunrise, Tuesday, December 5th.
Born in 1935 in Arlington Heights, IL, to Lee Hummel and Anna Popp Hummel, Frank grew up in Palatine, IL. After the age of 9, he was also raised by his maternal grandmother, Amanda Landwehr Popp. Legend has it that as a youth he walked uphill both ways to school, in a foot of snow, carrying a cord of wood to stoke the school stove.
He lived a long full life and did many different things, from working on the construction at the interchange of the Kennedy Expressway and the Tri-State, to racing powerboats, to playing semi-pro baseball, to supporting his family with bowling winnings, and dropping printing presses out of airplanes while in the US Army. He worked for decades as a Master Machinist in the printing industry, as well as in the injection molding businesses, until his retirement.
Introduced by his best friends to Thelma Westphal from Dundee, Frank and Thelma were wed in May, 1959 after only 11 months of dating, and remained married until her death in 2010, at which point he could finally get a word in edgewise.
Thirteen months after being married, the Hummels started to expand, adding Frank, Jr. in 1960, Wayde in 1962, Lauryn in 1964, and Bryan in 1966. Upon the addition of a cat and dog, the Hummels moved to Crystal Lake from their house in Palatine.
Upon retirement Frank and Thelma traveled extensively, staying with friends, and opening their own house to friends they had made from around the world. Frank and Thelma also appeared onscreen as extras in many movies and television shows filmed in the Chicago area.
In June 2016, Frank relocated to Miller’s Merry Manor in Rushville, IN. He loved his time there with the great staff and many friends.
Frank was preceded in death by his mother and father, his stepmother Helen Fry Hummel, and stepfathers Al Hosman and Vern Malsch.
Frank will be missed by sisters Betty Parkhurst and Patricia Csaszar. He is also survived by Frank, Jr. and his wife Theresa and sons Aaryn, Alexandyr, and Adam; his son Wayde and wife Shelly, and sons Blake and Ryan and his wife Kate and their sons Joey and Carter; daughter Lauryn Mitchell and her daughters Katie and Bridget; and son Bryan and his wife Deb and their sons Nate, Josh, and Luke.
Private visitation will be at the convenience of the family. Cremation will follow at the Eastern Indiana Crematory of Dublin. Marshall & Erlewein Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements, where online condolences can be made at www.marshallanderleweinfuneralhome.com