Obituary

  Reverend Frank J. Mack age 82 of Keithsburg, Ill., died Saturday, December 20, 2008, at the Mercer County Hospital, Aledo, Ill. Services are 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at the First Christian Church in Keithsburg. Burial is in the Greenmound cemetery where graveside military services will be conducted by the Mercer County VFW Post 1571. Visitation is from 5 until 8 p.m. on Monday at the First Christian Church in Keithsburg where memorials may be left to the Sixth Marine Division Corpsman Fund. Fippinger Funeral Home in Aledo is in charge of arrangements.
  Frank was born February 12, 1926, in Matherville, Ill., a son of Frank and Margaret Engstrom Mack. He graduated from Viola High School in 1943. During World War II he served with the U.S. Navy Corpsman attached to the Marine Corps serving from 1943 to 1946. He was awarded the following WWII decorations. The Military Order of the Purple Heart, The Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze battle stars, and a World War II Victory Medal.
  Frank was employed at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Rock Island for 35 years retiring in 1981. On September 10, 1994 he was united in marriage to Nancy Bull Barnhouse in El Paso, Ill.
  He began his career in the Ministry in 1982 serving as associate Minister at the Disciples of Christ Memorial Christian Church in Rock Island. From 1986 to 1990 he served as Pastor for the First Christian Church in Keithsburg, Ill. For many years Frank was the Chaplain for the 22nd Marine Regiment and National Chaplain to the 6th Marine Division. He was also Chaplain to the Quad City Candlelighters for more than 23 years. From 1952 to 1984 Frank Mack was a member of the board of directors of the Quad City Music Guild and appeared in over 25 musical productions. He was known for his beautiful singing voice having sung for over 1000 weddings and funerals. Frank was also a guest soloist at the graduation exercises of the Moline Hospital School of Nursing for 20 consecutive years between 1960 and 1980. He was raised in the Catholic Church and was a Charter member of St. Pious Catholic Church in Rock Island where he served for many years as Song Leader.
  His Lifetime memberships include the Rock Island VFW Post 1303, American Legion Fallerans Post 121 in Aledo, and the Matherville Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie lodge # 2019 where he served as past president. Other memberships include the Robert Burns Masonic Lodge # 113 in Keithsburg, Moline Consistory, Scottish Rite Consistory in Moline, Mohammed Shrine Peoria, Horseshoe Bend Scottish Rite Club where he served as Past President, and the Rock Island Rotary Club where he was honored with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award in 1980.
  Frank served a two year term as 1st ward alderman for the city of Keithsburg from 1987 to 1989, was a board member for both the Rock Island and Mercer County Youth Guidance Councils and served as Cluster Dean of the Illinois College of Professional Ministries in Illinois and Wisconsin. He has also been serving as an elder and as Vice Chairman of the Church Board at the Keithsburg Christian Church.
  He is survived by his wife, Nancy; three daughters, Barbara (Charles) O'Grady of Venice, Fla., Dr. Susan (Dennis) Carr of Chester, Ill. and Kathleen (Michael) Stodola of Johnston, Iowa; three stepsons, Michael (Robin) Barnhouse of Joy, Ill., Matthew (Heather) Barnhouse of Monument, Colo., and Mark Barnhouse of Oquawka, Ill.; four grandsons; one granddaughter; five step-grandsons and five step- granddaughters.
  Preceding Frank in death were his parents; an infant son, Stephen in 1953; a brother, Raymond Mack in 1974, and a son James F. Mack in 2008.
(Quad-City Times, Sunday, December 21, 2008)