• Visitation
  • Saturday, Sept. 5 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home (4800 S. 84^th St., Greenfield, WI)
• “Frank stories”
  • Saturday, Sept. 5 starting at 3:30 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home (4800 S. 84^th St., Greenfield, WI)

Frank V. Bialek

Frank V. Bialek, 75, of West Allis, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 27 after a long and courageous stand against several chronic diseases that threatened to steal his joy. He would have none of that.

Frank grew up on the South Side of Chicago, which was his kind of town. He spent a lifetime loving the Cubbies and cheering for Da Bears.

He graduated from Brother Rice High School, where he loved to produce dances and proms featuring top-notch talent, including booking the band that would evolve into REO Speedwagon.

After high school, Frank enrolled at Milwaukee’s Marquette University, where he made many lifelong friends as president of a fraternity that he considered a forerunner of the one depicted in the movie Animal House. During his freshman year, Frank also met Ed Langwasser, who became his best friend, confidant and spiritual adviser.

Frank studied broadcasting and speech and planned to return to Chicago after getting some experience in Milwaukee. He never did move back to the Windy City.

His career included stints at WISN, WBCS, WRIT, WEMP radio stations and at a startup album rock station called 93QFM.

While news director at WQFM, Frank created the city’s most hilarious community calendar, “Milwaukee Tonight.” He also managed to uncover a hoax telephone call involving a Muhammad Ali impersonator and Howard Cosell. He once created a half-real/half-imaginary QFM Groundhog’s Day parade plagued by freezing temps and a snowstorm and broadcast live. He teamed up with DJ Bob Reitman for a live broadcast of their attempt to convince gorillas Samson and Tara to get together for breeding purposes. Despite hours of pumping romantic music like Bungle in the Jungle into their zoo enclosure, the great apes remained far apart.

Frank moved on to become director of communications for the Medical Society of Milwaukee County for 20 years. While in that position, he organized physicians to help develop a community coalition to answer the challenges of an emerging AIDS crisis. He also arranged for doctors to appear regularly on WTMJ Radio and in other local media to provide timely health information on a wide range of topics.

Frank’s public service includes an appointment to the District Two Committee of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Office of Lawyer Regulation, where he served for eight years, and many years of service on the board of the West Allis Health Department.

One of the greatest joys of Frank’s life was spending time with his grandson, Sylvan, who is his “Boompa’s” pride and joy.

Frank had a particular soft spot for dogs, and spent many happy hours with family pets Whiskey Man, Dr. Winston O’Boogie and Radar. All of them loved him back.

Among family and friends, Frank led a legendary life. He left no party unpartied, no witty comments unspoken, no episode of MASH unmashed. He was always bigger than anything that tried to drag him down.

Frank is survived and deeply loved by his wife of 49 years, Nancy Blair Bialek, his children, Rebecca (Taylor) Rick and Benjamin Bialek (Emily Dugan), and grandson Sylvan Rick. He is also survived by his brother, Thomas (Paula) Bialek, and sister, Catherine (Richard) Gilman. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank A. and Helen M. (Paris) Bialek. He is further survived by Aunt Stella Dudkowski and many cousins, nieces and nephews and cherished friends.

The family is grateful to the physicians, nurses and all the medical staff at Froedtert Hospital who provided excellent care to Frank throughout his life, as well as the staff of the Lutheran Home and West Allis paramedics for their gentle assistance during his last days.

A celebration of Frank’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 5 at Heritage Funeral Home, 4800 S. 84^th St., Greenfield. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. followed by sharing of favorite “Frank stories” by friends and family.

Memorials to Special Olympics, the Wisconsin Humane Society or the charity of your choice appreciated.