Francis Svercl

Francis Jerome (Frank) Svercl, age 84, of Duluth Minnesota, (Fredenberg Township) passed away Thursday January 23, 2014.

He was born was born to Frank and Agnes (Seykora) Svercl on May 6, 1929 in Owatonna, MN.

Frank grew up on the Svercl family farm in Sandstone Minnesota. In 1947, he left the farm to work for the Pittsburgh Steamship Division sailing the Great Lakes and was a very good seamen and earned his pilot's license. In April of 1953, joined the United States Army where he served 2 years out of Fort Eustis Virginia, also working on the ships. He bought a service station on 21st Ave East and London Road in Duluth, "Franks Texaco", selling the service station in 1962, he moved his family to a farm in Fredenberg and then went to work for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) in Duluth where he worked in The Right of Way Department and specialized in the design and inspection of many roadways for the next 33 years. His passion for agriculture led him to be a supervisor for the Soil & Water Conservation Department in Southern St. Louis County. After his retirement from the State, he worked as a road foreman for Fredenberg Township for almost 15 years.
Frank loved to hunt, fish and farm. His passion for the weather was noted every day in a diary and reported to weather watchers. He was an active member of the NRA, various Veterans Associations and was a giver to many charities. He made time for family and friends when he could. He will be deeply missed by all the lives that he touched.
He was preceded in death by parents; brother, Eugene "Bud" Svercl; 1st wife, Virginia Svercl (Okronglis); and granddaughter, Jesi Svercl.
Frank is survived by two sisters, Terese Molby of Brainerd, MN and Genevieve (Ray) Rosenving of Minneapolis; former wife, Helen Svercl (Bolen); two daughters, Susan (Robert) Leeds of San Francisco, CA and Diane (Gilbert) Carreon of Gresham, OR; two sons, Michael (Elizabeth) Svercl of Anoka, and Daniel (Lynn) Svercl of Duluth, MN; 6 grandchildren: Phillip Svercl, Sofia Carreon Kralik, Leanna Carreon Petrone, Rebekka Svercl McClure, Jeremiah Svercl, and Katelyn Wight, step grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday, January 31, 2014 at St. Benedict's Catholic Church, 1419 Saint Benedict St, Duluth MN, 55811, from 5 to 7PM, wake prayers starting at 6:30PM, Visitation will continue Saturday February 1st at 12 noon, until the mass of Christian Burial starting at 1PM. Interment will be at Spring Hill Cemetery, Sandstone MN, next to his mother and father in the spring 2014. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555