Frank A. Smagacz
Frank A. Smagacz
Frank A. Smagacz, 89, of Chicago Ridge, IL, passed away June 28, 2026. Frank Albert Smagacz was born Dec. 2, 1936, in Pray, Jackson County, Wisconsin, to Frank and Victoria (Iwaniec) Smagacz, the youngest of seven children. He attended a one-room grade school in City Point. Frank wasn’t afraid of hard work; besides working on his family’s farm, he worked at harvesting cranberries and mossing. He graduated from Pittsville High School in 1954.
At the age of 18, like many of his brothers and sisters, he moved to Chicago and began working at Reliable Packing in the Chicago stockyards, going to refrigeration school at night. In 1957, he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA, where he proudly served until 1959. Upon returning home and back to Reliable Packing, he began what would be a 35-year career working as a union truck driver, Teamsters Local 710, delivering meat before retiring in 1994.
Frank married Geraldine Kwasiborski April 22, 1961, at St. Jane de Chantal Church in Chicago, an incredible partnership that would last 65 years. They were blessed with three children, Frank in 1962, Karen in 1963 and Mike in 1964. Besides being a good provider, Frank always showed up for their sports and events, often coming straight from work. It continued when grandchildren arrived, and he was a grandpa who handed out quarters, attended events, shared his childhood stories and taught life lessons and how to shoot rubber bands at the clock.
Frank never stopped being a farm kid at heart. He loved deer hunting, being outdoors, and riding his beloved 1952 Ford 8N tractor and giving hayrides. Frank enjoyed taking his family back to “the farm,” especially taking his grandsons on their own trips to learn how to drive the tractor and cars, deer hunting and experience the important “firsts.” Following family tradition, it was customary to drop whatever you were doing, run down the long driveway and wave at the trains as they passed by the house - bonus if you got a horn blow back. For anyone who knew Frank, you knew there was no place where he was happier than at the farm, which is still in the family.
Frank also treasured his 32 nieces and nephews and the many family gatherings and picnics that brought everyone together for catching up, reminiscing and in the customary Polish tradition, good food and lots of it.
He is survived by his wife, Gerry; sons Frank and Mike (Katie); and daughter Karen (James) McQuillan; his grandchildren, Daniel (Catherine), Jim, Tara (Conner) Christoff, Jake (Taylor), and Anna; his great-grandchildren, Finn, Reed, Mickey, Danny and Gwyn; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
Preceding him in death were his parents, siblings and in-laws Louis (Barbara), Stanley (Lorraine), Helen (Harry) Martens, Josephine (Donald) Tomsyck, Sophie (Joseph) Filipiak and Joseph (Rose Marie); and his lifelong friend John Matousek.
Visitation was held Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Curley Funeral Home, Chicago Ridge. Family and friends gathered Monday, July 6, 2026, at St. Linus Church, for Mass at 11 a.m. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery, Justice, IL.