Frank Michael Sedlacek

Frank M Sedlacek, Jr. passed on Sunday morning, March 26 th at Northwestern Medical Center at the age of 89 with his family by his side. He had been cared for at home by his beloved wife Lorry of 48 years, along with the help of the VA Caregiver Support Program. He managed to keep his sweetness and sense of humor throughout the last few months and continued to steal the hearts of all his care team.

He was born in Berwyn, Illinois to Susan and Frank Sr. and grew up in Cary, Illinois. Frank graduated from Crystal Lake Central High School in 1951 while assisting his father in the family welding business and creating havoc with his friends on Halloween around the farms of Cary. As a first-generation Czech American, Frank was the first in the family to attend college. He received his bachelor’s degree in business from Northwestern University. After college he served in the military and would regale friends and family of his time spent at Camp McCoy, mostly fishing.

After becoming passionate about insurance, he started Sentinel Agency, Inc. He loved helping people and taking care of their insurance needs, advocating to anyone he spoke to, sometimes getting the ok to quote someone’s insurance by the end of a haircut or just running errands. He ended up focusing on the trucking industry, helping to shape many of the regulations we have today due to his involvement with the Illinois Trucking Association, and partnerships with insurance companies creating special programs for their unique needs.

He was so affable, people just wanted to talk with him. From an early age, he had amassed a lot of knowledge. This led many to seek him out for advice and earned him the nickname “Uncle Frank” from friends and customers. He loved kids, his own, and his grandkids, willing to be silly and interact with any children he came across. Many know the love story of Frank and his wife, Lorry. For him, it was the third time that was the charm, as it was the second time for her. It was a story that continued for 49 years, through good times and bad. They were equal partners and used their love and laughter to make it through everything and keep moving on. People would comment on their comfort and ease with each other. He was always surprising her with gifts, and as she was a box shaker, he made it his mission to stump her, hiding presents in frying pans, bottles of Squirt, and pen boxes. They travelled, danced, and shared a love of good food.

Frank loved getting out and doing things. He was an outdoorsman and loved fishing, even going to the Arctic Circle, and Australia for deep sea fishing. He frequently took his family camping, and later spent time with them and friends at the family cabin on Swell Bay in Ontario, Canada which he turned from a shack into a beautiful summer home, built largely with his own hands, keeping the forest at bay with his trusty chainsaw. Frank also enjoyed travelling all over the world, golfing, playing cards with friends, and scuba diving.

One of the things that defined him, was his love of animals, a passion he shared with his wife. His many stories of his dogs that he doted on, especially a dog named Blackie, and a pigeon named Verky, were on his mind a great deal in later life. He also was the hub in whatever area he lived in for the local animals, having food and water for the wildlife, no matter how bad the weather became. In his younger years he raised and showed quarter horses and is a past President of the Illinois Quarter Horse Association.

Frank is survived by his wife Lorry, his dog Annie, his children: Robin, and Frank, his grandchildren: Eric, MaxRoy, Nicole, and Alizabeth, and his great grandchildren: Skylar, Evie, Taylor, and Kiera.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Susan and Frank, his sisters: Blanche and Elenore, his son: Terry, and the myriad of animals who he adored with which he shared his life.

Frank’s wishes were that a memorial service is not held, so the family asks in lieu of flowers please send donations to: On Angels Wings Pet Rescue in Crystal Lake https://www.onangelswings.org/donate/