Thomas Henry Frawley

SUN CITY - Thomas (Tom) Henry Frawley, 81, (of Green Bay, Wis. and Sun City, Ariz.) passed away on August 17, 2014 at his home in Arizona due to a respiratory illness. Thomas was born on July 2, 1933 in Green Bay, Wis., to Lawrence J. and Marie A. (Bangert) Frawley. The family resided in De Pere, Wis. and Tom attended Irwin Grade School and East De Pere High School. In 1953 he joined the US Air Force and was stationed in Louisiana and then later in Udine, Italy. During this time he worked as an Aircraft Control Operator as part of the 629th AC&W Squadron, Campoformido Italy. Tom earned a Defense Service Medal as well as a Good Conduct medal while serving overseas. On May 1, 1954, before leaving for Udine, he married Eleanor (Elly) Lovelace at St. Willebrord's Church in Green Bay. Elly joined him in Udine in spring of 1955. After returning from Italy in 1957, Tom worked for the GMC Truck Dealership in Green Bay, Wis. When the owner retired and closed the business, Tom applied to General Motors for the GMC franchise. He acquired the franchise and owned and operated the GMC heavy duty truck dealership for ten years. He successfully grew the heavy duty truck dealership adding Volvo, White and Auto Car. He retired and sold the business in 1985 while remaining active in Real Estate management. During the ten years that Tom and Elly owned the business, they won numerous awards and were recognized as industry leaders by General Motors. Since retiring in 1985, he spent winters in Sun City, Ariz. and summers in Green Bay. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends at their cottage in Northern Wisconsin and his house in Arizona where he particularly loved leaving the snow and cold behind. Tom's generosity, sense of humor, and overall caring attitude will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Gerald Frawley; and his brother-in-law, Harold Kropp. In addition to his wife of 60 years, Elly, Tom is survived by his children, Jeffrey R Frawley Sr. (Debra), Green Bay, Wis. and Sun City, Ariz., John E. Frawley (Kristin), Green Bay, Wis., Cheryl M. Frawley (Stan Luisier), Green Bay, Wis.; Mark A. Frawley (long-time girlfriend Amy Zonder), Shelby Township, Mich., and Greg L. Frawley, Sun City, Ariz.; grandchildren, Kelly L. (Sean) Stults , Appleton, Wis.; Jeffrey R. Frawley Jr., Ingalls, Mich., Shane T. Frawley (Colleen), Chicago, Ill., Renee A. (Benjamin) Finer, De Pere, Wis., Melissa E. (Arthur) Ruffin, Green Bay, Wis., Aleena M Luisier, Milwaukee, Wis., Thomas D. Frawley, Shelby Township, Mich., Michael J. Frawley, Shelby Township, Mich., and Daniel C. Frawley, Shelby Township, Mich.; great-grandchildren, Cyric, Kelise and Soren Stults all of Appleton, Wis., Darian , Jeffrey R. III, and Cori Frawley, all of Ingalls, Mich., Jordison Greendeer of De Pere, Wis., and Sophia Belongea of Green Bay, Wis.; step grandchildren, Nicole (Scott) Benthein, Manitowoc, Wis., Kasi (Joe) Christel, Manitowoc, Wis.; step great-grandchildren, Gavin Greendeer of De Pere, Wis., Dakota Christel of Manitowoc, Wis., Carly and Evan Taddy of Manitowoc, Wis., Zain and Aralyn Ruffin of Green Bay, Wis. The family would like to thank the caring staff at Hospice Family Care for their in-home support during the final week of Tom's life. A visitation and Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, August 25, 2014 beginning at 9:30 a.m. for the visitation and 11 a.m. for the funeral at St. Francis Xavier Parish, 220 S. Michigan St., De Pere, WI 54115. Please join the family for lunch at the church immediately following the service. www.azlegacyfuneralhome.com