Frank Houcek Sr.

Frank Houcek – husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, World War II hero, and resident of Blue Springs – loved to play poker.  He was born on 7-22-1922, and frequently joked "That's 5 sevens when deuces are wild."  Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Frank was graduated from Culver Military Academy in Indiana in 1940, and applied for active military duty in 1942.  He proudly served in the 8th Infantry Division, 121st Infantry Regiment, Company "C" as a platoon leader, Company Executive Officer and C.O. His unit landed on Utah Beach July 4, 1944, 28 days after the Normandy invasion, relieving the battered 82nd Airborne, and saw action in four of the war's most brutal campaigns:  Normandy Campaign, Northern France Campaign, Rhineland Campaign, and Central Europe Campaign.  He took part in two of World War II's most legendary conflicts – the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge, fought in blinding blizzards and bitter sub-zero temperatures from Dec. 1944 to Jan. 1945, and claimed many U.S. casualties.    Frank was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the European Theatre Ribbon with 4 battle stars.  He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1945, and kept active in both the reserves and National Guard for 15 years, ending due to a near-fatal heart attack at age 34.  He was also a lifetime member of the VFW.Always proud of his service, he often said "Spending time in the U.S. military is a pretty good life."Post-war, Frank married his darling wife Marge, also from Chicago, on Apr. 8, 1947, and frequently said "Her love, devotion and insight were a godsend in so many ways."  He enjoyed a 40-year career in sales with O-Cedar, Drackett Products, Martin-Marietta Corporation, and retired from John Hancock Life Insurance. Frank and Marge moved to the Kansas City area in 1961, and have live in Blue Springs, MO for 13 years. Frank died peacefully on Dec. 31 at age 91. He is preceded in death by his father, Frank Houcek, who was elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives in 1940, his mother Blanche Houcek, his sister Grace Matousek, and sister Jewel Haas. Frank leaves his dear wife of 65 years, Marge, and two sons, Frank Jr. of Blue Springs, and Rick of Atlanta, plus three grandsons, two granddaughters, and six great grandchildren. Funeral services for Frank will be held Sun., Jan. 5 at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 801 NW 108th St., Kansas City, MO 64155.  Viewing at 1:00 pm; service at 2:00 pm. Frank requests donations to the

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, in lieu of flowers.

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