Frank S. Lokai

Francis “Frank” S. Lokai, 103, of Urbana, OH, passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2017. He was born July 23, 1914 in Dayton, OH, the second son and fourth child of 12 born to Martin Cieslaus and Marianne (Stefanska) Lokai.
He grew up in a close-knit family with his five brothers and five sisters in a Polish Lithuanian neighborhood. Frank attended St. Adalbert’s and Chaminade Schools. In 1933, when he was 19, the family moved to what is now the Martin Lokai Farm on Adams Road, Dayton. He managed the farm until 1936 when he farmed on his own in Greene County.
Frank enjoyed working with horses and had two he remembered fondly, Dick and Babe, a beautiful dappled blue roan.
On February 6, 1937, Frank and Elva Dimond Lewis were married at St. Adalbert’s in Dayton. They farmed together and raised their family in Greene and Champaign Counties. In 1952, they bought their farm in Urbana, OH. Frank liked to describe himself as a “jack of all trades.” He managed his farm up through his 103rd birthday. He was a beekeeper, clock maker, gardener, woodworker, builder and carpenter. He liked Purple Martins and built some elaborate houses for them. Their boisterous chirps and aerial acrobatics were familiar sounds and sights on his farm in the summer. Frank enjoyed a good joke. A devout Catholic, he served as a Eucharistic Minister with the St. Mary’s parish in Urbana for many years. He was predeceased by his wife of 35 years, Elva, and their first son, Francis.
Frank married Mary C. Achatz on February 2, 1974 in Urbana, OH. He and Mary enjoyed traveling together. A notable trip was in 1983, with Frank’s brother Tom and wife, Edith, when they visited the Łokaj family home in Poland and then visited Assisi, Italy. Married 40 years, Mary died in December 2014.
Also predeceased are his brothers and their wives, Clement (Eleanor), Thomas (Edith), Roman (Romaine) Lokai, Samuel (Catherine), and sisters, (Eva) Sr. Mary Norbert, (Frances) Sr. Bernard, Genevieve Lokai, Mary (Walter) Piekutowski, Regina (Wilbur) Dunksy, and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Helen Lokai, Kenneth (Naomi) Lewis, Robert (Rose) Lewis, Ruth Lewis (Alvie) Bentley, Duane Mootz, Bob (Betty) Achatz, Bill (Ruth) Achatz, John (Ruth) Achatz and Margaret (Achatz) Evilsizor.
Frank is survived by his brother, Martin Lokai of Dayton, OH; his 10 children, Jan (Jim) Albright of Verona, WI, Larry (Elaine) Lokai of Urbana, Rosalie (Wayne) Deri of Farmington, ME, Jim Lokai of Urbana, Dr. Michael (Robin) Lokai of Ocala, FL, Nancy (Frank) Baldwin of Urbana, Angela (Robert) Greenlee of Urbana, Cecelia (Ben) Minnich of Urbana, Frances Lokai of Urbana and Rick Lokai of Huntsville, OH; 16 grandchildren, Nick and Nathaniel (Melissa) Albright, Shelly (Jeff) Gier, Susan (Jim) Farr, Brad (Alicia) Lokai, Amy (Mike) Denlinger, Sascha (Nichole) Deri, Justin Deri, Erin (Neill) Mullett, Brent (Jill) Lokai, Tanya (Mark) Williams, Matthew (Robyn) Lokai, Mark Baldwin, Eric Baldwin, Megan Greenlee and Allison Greenlee; 32 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Dolores Mootz of Hillsboro, and Patricia (Don) Roosa of Iota, LA; brother-in-law, Ed Evilsizor; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 9-10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 in St. Mary Catholic Church, 231 Washington Ave., Urbana, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. with Father Matthew Lee, Celebrant. Burial will follow in Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana.
In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to the charity of your choice.
The family is being served by WALTER & LEWIS FUNERAL HOME, Urbana. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.walterfunerals.com.