Frank Dodge passed away in his sleep in the early hours on Saturday, February 15th, 2020 after rapidly declining health. He led a storied life of service to others and was known fondly by many as “Cranky Franky”. Born March 12th, 1939 in Illinois to Ralph and Clara (Hueber) Dodge, he was an avid reader of books on history, genealogy, and geography. He joined the army after graduation from Marengo High School and served as a mechanic in the U.S. Army while stationed in South Korea post-ceasefire.
Upon returning stateside to be a farmer in Norwood, Missouri, Frank contributed to major soil and water conservation efforts in the state. Decades later in 1989, he moved to Eagle Nest, NM to work in the logging industry. He eventually became a caretaker of homes and retired after almost 18 years of service in the Idlewild Community. When he suffered an aortic aneurism in December 2017 and several subsequent hospitalizations, he settled in as a beloved resident at the Colfax General LTC facility in Springer, MN for the last year and a half. His only complaint was that he suffered from “too many birthdays.” He was 80 years old, just a month shy of another birthday.
Frank is preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Clara (nee Hueber) Dodge. He is survived by many friends, his sister Laurel (nee Dodge) Bruggen, and five children from his first wife Myrna (nee Male) Dodge: Heather Dodge, Holly Dodge, Jonathan Dodge (wife Rebecca), April Dodge-Ostendorf (husband Brian), and Ashley Dodge, as well as five grandkids and two grand pups.
A private family memorial service will be held in Illinois and interment at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
