Robert Dean Frazier, Sr.

Protecting the freedom for all Americans for decades, Robert Frazier was a retired military veteran who served his country faithfully through three foreign wars. He recently engaged in a final battle, this time for his life, and was a forceful opponent to the lymphoma that had overtaken his 85 year-old body. Despite his zeal for survival, profound optimism, courage and fierce resolve to win, he lost this ultimate fight, passing away at Olathe Medical Center in Kansas City in the presence and comfort of his loving family, pastor, friends and kind medical staff. On a crisp fall day in September, 1923, Robert Frazier, of Scotch, Irish and Cherokee heritage, made his entry to life in Murphysboro, Illinois. He was the first born son of Lena (Douglas) and William Lanus Frazier. "Frazier" with a "z" was the way Robert would often refer to himself. At age 18, "Frazier" began his military career, first in the United States Navy. September, 1946 was another momentous date for him when he married the love of his life, Elizabeth Margaret Thomsen. He instantly became the entertaining "big brother" to her siblings. Shortly after their marriage, he was consigned out to the army and spent a little over three years in Greece during the Greek Civil war against the communists. After serving in World War II, and completing thirteen years in the Navy, he transferred to the Air Force to spend more time with his family. This allowed him to open many new experiences and exposure to different aspects of life and cultures, and exciting journeys for them. This included a four-and-a-half year stay in England and residences in several states. He loved to relate many of his military tales to his children. One such story was the time he was sitting in a tavern and a young navy lieutenant walked in and asked if he could join him. They began to chat and Frazier soon learned that this distinguished naval officer was none other than the famous Henry Fonda. Another interesting story was when he was serving in Greece and was offered a ride from Greece to Rome by Admiral Alan G. Kirk, the famous US naval commander during the Normandy landings of 1944 and subsequent U.S. Ambassador to several countries, including the Soviet Union, and the man who had the U.S.S. Kirk named in his honor. He recalled how this admiral used to come into his office and sit on his desk and carry on a casual conversation with him as if he was just "one of the guys." He had a deep love for baseball. In fact he was a pitcher for the military for many years and wouldn't hesitate to let you know that it was he that invented the "split finger knuckle ball" and that the professional teams "stole his technique". His favorite team was the St. Louis Cardinals, and he never missed seeing or listening to a game if he could help it. He also made sure his children knew what the score was in each game, even when he had to call them long-distance. He also loved animals, especially birds and dogs. He loved to train his birds to talk and his dogs to "speak". He was amazed to find that his oldest daughter's Pomeranian, Stevie" actually said "Out" when he needed to go out. He found cats to be a bit more difficult , but he did manage to train his "grandcat" Liepschen to follow simple commands while outdoors, unleashed. Fun to him was working, and after retiring from the military in 1962, he enjoyed a successful career as an insurance representative for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Deciding to do something completely different he joined a construction company after that, participating in building the Belleville Illinois Court House. Looking for another exciting adventure, he worked as a deputy sheriff in Murphysboro, Illinois for ten years. In his 70's, he was finally ready to "retire", and opened his own lawn business, which he continued until he was 83, beginning in Florida, then in Corpus Christi and Austin, Texas. He is survived by his three children: Donna Boddy, and her husband Douglas; Robert D. Frazier, Jr., and his wife Song; Elizabeth Gregowicz and her two Catz. He is also survived by six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Frazier, his brother, Mr. William Frazier, and his parents. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at Pettett Funeral Home in Murphysboro and burial will be at Tower Grove Cemetery with military services conducted by the American Legion Post # 127, V.F.W. Posts # 7190 and 2605, and the Jackson County D.A.V. Chapter # 69. Friends may call from 10 a. m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, at the funeral home. Education and learning were important to this brilliant father and grandfather; to foster his lasting legacy, any donations made to the funeral home will be placed in a special educational fund for "Frazier's" grandchildren. You can visit Robert 's CaringBridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/robertfrazier, or leave a condolence at www.pettettfuneralhome.com.

Robert Dean Frazier, Sr.

September 23, 1923 - December 22, 2008