Frank C. Karwoski's Obituary
The Lord called for our amazing father and grandfather, Frank Charles, on December 1, 2015. A lifelong Tacoma resident, Frank was born October 11, 1930 to Frank and Frances (Zinski) Karwoski. Frank graduated from Lincoln High School in 1950 where he excelled as an athlete in football and baseball. He went on to study Business Administration earning his Bachelor of Arts at Pacific Lutheran College in 1954. At PLC Frank was a star athlete in football and baseball. After college Frank was signed by the Denver Bears Baseball team and played professional ball. Missing his love, Carol, he returned to Tacoma and continued to play city league baseball.
In 1955 Frank married Carol Marie Schuler. Together for 59 years they made their home in Tacoma and were blessed with one child, Cynthia. Frank worked in the sporting goods and wholesale meat businesses until 1968 when he began buying and producing salmon caviar for Japan. Along with his wife Carol he founded Franco Fish Products, Inc. They spent their time together cleaning fish in the remote reaches of Alaska, touring in the early hours of the Tsukiji Market, hunting pheasants in the fields of Eastern Washington, hunting elk in the forests of Mt. St. Helens and the Hoh River, and working the long hours in each salmon season. In the off-season and holidays, they enjoyed their beach home in Punta Pescadero, Mexico with family and friends. Above all, Frank’s greatest joy was time spent with his granddaughters, Tiffany and Lisa, at home and at Casa Grande.
Frank is preceded in death by his wife, Carol, parents, sister, Shirley Smith, and brother-in-law, Noel Schuler. Frank is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Chaney (Douglas); his granddaughters, Tiffany Chaney and Lisa Chaney; brother-in-law, Bobby Smith; sister-in-law, Janice Schuler; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family thanks Christina Nolan for her care and dedication to Frank for over six years. Frank will be greatly missed for his dry humor, his loyalty to family, friends, and business customers, his faith in God, and his endless caring. He was truly a gentleman.
A celebration of Frank’s life will be held on Friday, December 11th at 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s By the Narrows Lutheran Church, 6730 N. 17th ST, Tacoma, WA. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Pacific Lutheran University, Office of Development and University Relations, Tacoma, WA 98447-0018.
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