Frank P. Dohn, Jr.

Frank P. Dohn, Jr.

November 27, 1932 – January 9, 2021

Frank P. Dohn, Jr., age 88 passsed away quietly at his home of 56 years in Omaha, Nebraska after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by his wife, children and his Heavenly Father who welcomed him into the comfort of His arms on January 9, 2021. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Frank P. Dohn, Sr. and Evelyn; sisters, Carolyn Garlock and Janice Hanson-Winter; grandsons, Brian Thomas Bower and Christopher Michael Laird.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Irene Dohn; brother, Thomas (Marsha) Dohn; children: Mark Alan (Annette) Dohn, Kurt Arthur Dohn, Robin Ann Laird, Rebecca Ann (Dan) Bower; 13 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 2 step-great grandchildren, along with many friends who mourn his loss.

Born on November 27, 1932, Frank graduated from Central High School in 1950. He joined the Navy during the Korean war from 1950-1954 with a tour of duty to Japan and on the CVA-21 U.S.S. Boxer. In 1954 Frank went back to the University of Nebraska at Omaha, reconnected with his Central High School classmate, and married the love of his life, Irene on August 6, 1955. In 1957 he earned a degree with a major in Business Administration and minor in Finance. He took over the family business and became the owner of Omaha Food Brokerage Company for 38 years while raising 4 children. In May 1980 Frank joined the Catholic Church.

Frank was a true outdoorsman! He loved all sports, especially golfing, fishing, and hunting with his Brittany Spaniel, Fritz. He traveled worldwide either on work trips or yearly family vacations. After retirement in 1994, he spent 24 years during winter months enjoying the warmth and ocean in South Texas along with 20 plus years in a cabin with family and friends on the Platte River during the summer. He attended 20 VC-35 Navy reunions in the fall of each year.

Frank is now rejoicing in heaven with family and dear ones who preceded him, and he hopes that his golfing buddies have a tee time for him.

Until we all are reunited forever, your love, smile and particularly your sense of humor will fill us with laughter and remain in our hearts forever.

Vigil: Wednesday, 7:00PM, West Center Chapel with family receiving friends from 5:00-7:00PM per CDC guidelines. Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, 10:30AM, St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church. Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery with Military rites by Millard American Legion Post 374 & Millard VFW Post 8334.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in honor of Frank P. Dohn, Jr. to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

To view a family video scrapbook, click here  https://boxcast.tv/view/frank-dohn-video-scrapbook-nqkavuvdvcrqrrg7srts

To view a live broadcast of the Vigil Service or Mass, go to our website or www.stroberts.com and click the View Live Cast button on the homepage.

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

EULOGY FOR FRANK DOHN

Good evening.

Thank you for being here tonight to celebrate the life of my dad, Frank Dohn. I am Robin, his third child and oldest daughter. As I thought about my dad, his name, Frank, truly was an expression and representation of the man and how he lived his life.

The name Frank is of German origin and means “Honest”. That describes my dad. He was an honest, German man who taught us kids to be honest all throughout his life and not so much by word but by his example. He was a man of few words but spoke loudly through his actions. He was determined, hardworking and responsible. He had a tremendous work ethic. My dad passed on these traits to each of us throughout his entire life teaching us to work hard and to appreciate what we have, particularly and most importantly to appreciate and love family.

Another meaning of the name Frank is “free man”. This also describes my dad. He believed in and defended our nations freedoms not only during the Korean war but every day of his life. He was a proud Navy veteran, a patriot, and a defender of the United States of America. He loved his country and her flag. He encouraged us to know and understand our history so we would appreciate the rights and freedoms won for us through the sacrifices of those who came before us.

The formal name of Frank is Francis. St. Francis of Assisi has been described as a nature mystic, one who finds God in the vast and beautiful fields of nature. And like St. Francis, my dad loved nature and being outdoors. He found his heaven on earth in nature just as St. Francis did. Whether he was hunting, fishing, or golfing, my dad felt most “free” being outside experiencing nature. He passed on his love of nature to his children while forming fond memories during two-week family vacations to Minnesota, Colorado, and Canada every summer all the way through high school.

My dad really enjoyed hunting with his sons, my brothers, Mark, and Kurt, along with his grade school friends, including Don Rader, Larry Moore and Bob Chedester in Canada. On one trip he had to even fight off a bear. My brothers can share those stories. He enjoyed hunting duck, pheasant, geese and quail and was proud of his Brittany Spaniel, Fritz who won many awards for being “on point”. His fishing trips resulted in several large fish caught including a sailfish and barracuda being mounted in our family home. He caught the largest Crappi fish on record in Nebraska and has a plaque as well.

Frank was an avid and excellent golfer, was in many tournaments and received numerous trophies, too many to count. I had a chance to golf with my dad about 10 years ago and he was still spot on! I never had lessons and would swing two or three times before I would hit the ball – he would just laugh or give me a funny look. But when I did hit the ball, it usually was straight at least. His love of golf and watching it on TV with his grandchildren encouraged them to play. My daughter, Lisa even took it up as a sport in high school. But this is true for all his children and grandchildren in one way or another. His love of nature has been passed on to all of us.

St. Francis also had a great sense of humor. G.K. Chesterton says of St. Francis of Assisi, “The sense of humor salts all his escapades.” I believe you can say that of my dad as well. He had a wonderful sense of humor and would made us laugh with his silly phrases such as, “yum yum eat em up” or “happy birthday to me” while celebrating his grandchildren’s birthdays or his witty comments on the political scene or general topic of the day and jokes. He never lost his sense of humor, even joking with Dan and Kurt Thomas the night before he passed.

My dad converted to Catholicism in May 1980 thanks to my mother, Irene, and her witness to the faith and during the last eight months of my dad’s life, I had the privilege and honor of bringing him Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, Holy Communion.

Two weeks before he passed, he called each of us kids to share the news that he did not have much time left. He told me he loved me and asked me to take care of mom and I assured him I would. Dad, I will, we all will.

St. Francis said before his death to his friars: “Pause and reflect, for the day of death is approaching. I beg you, therefore, with all possible respect, not to forget the Lord or turn away from His commandments by reason of the cares and preoccupations of this world, for all those who are oblivious of Him and turn away from His commands are cursed and will be totally forgotten by Him (Ex. 33:13).” My dad strove to follow God’s commandments and have a close relationship with Jesus and a prayer life. He even joked to my mom a few days before he passed, “I sure hope there is something beyond or I lived this way all for nothing.”

St. Francis referred to Death as his sister and friend. He said, “All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, from whose embrace no mortal can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your will! The second death can do them no harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give him thanks. And serve him with great humility.”

Frank was able to prepare to meet Sister Death as St. Francis had done and greeted her as a friend. My dad received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick three times, including right before he passed. I know he did not want to leave the woman he loved all his life, but he was ready to greet Sister Death. It was so beautiful to hear his last words of love and affection to my mom, and his family got to be with him before he passed at home. He knew he was loved.

When we found out my dad had only 2 months to live at the end of May, I started praying daily sometimes two or three times a day for my dad to have a happy death just as St. Joseph did, dying with Jesus and Mary, dying with family. God left us many signs that my prayer had been answered. My dad’s suffering and death reflected that of Christ’s in that Christ’s passion was from 9am to 3pm. Since Christ died at 3pm the Hour of Mercy is from 3-4pm. Dad passed at 3:18pm – which is also my sister Becky’s birthday, March 18. He also passed on the last day of the Christmas season or the vigil of the Baptism of the Lord which ends the Christmas season. He was in his own way letting us know he would be okay, and that we are loved, we all are loved.

Frank loved his God, country and family with a passion and taught us the same. He would support all of us in our life’s journey – no matter where we were led, he supported and respected each one of us through it all. I am glad we were able to support him on his last journey here on earth and helped prepare him meet his God and Father. He was a wonderful man, a loving husband, a dear father, and a gentle grandfather and will be missed terribly. I love you dad and miss you so much already. I know you are already at peace with your grandchildren, Brian and Christopher, and will watch over us all as we walk through our lives until we meet again in heaven forever. Thank you for all you taught us about God, family, country, and love.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Robin Ann Laird