The Reverend Frank Fagerburg

The Reverend Frank Phillip Fagerburg
(Pastor Frank)

Born to Alfred George and Jessie Mae Nada (Noland) Fagerburg on November 4, 1920, Frank P. Fagerburg began his nearly 96 years of life in his family home at 1204 North Livingston Street, Bloomington, Illinois. He died peacefully at his home in Green Lake, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2016.

Before his birth, Frank’s parents prayed their child would live and work serving God. They dedicated his life to Christ at the First Baptist Church (FBC) of Bloomington. As a young boy, he accepted Christ as his Savior and became a member of the congregation.

He attended Bloomington High School, was part of the Bloomington YMCA acrobatics team, and participated in many sports. After graduation, he worked for a railroad until entering the military.

Frank joined the Navy Air Corp on January 5, 1943. He cherished his time serving our country as a Navy Air Corp fighter pilot in World War II, flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter and Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber aircraft. Serving aboard the U.S.S. Shangri-La aircraft carrier, he was part of Air Group Two “Tall Dogs,” and mustered out of military service on December 9, 1945.

After attending Illinois Wesleyan University, he transferred to Sioux Falls College (SFC --- now The University of Sioux Falls). During college, Frank’s summer job at the American Baptist Assembly (Green Lake Conference Center) of driving the Assembly’s tour bus and transporting ABA conferees to and from the train station was his first connection to Green Lake. While in college, Frank was on the football, basketball, and track teams, the gospel evangelism team, theater, was Senior class president, and once competed against the Harlem Globetrotters. It was at college he met the love of his life, Dorothy Elaine Williams. After receiving their Bachelor of Arts degrees in Christian Education on June 6, 1949, they traveled to Dottie’s hometown of Osage, Iowa, where they married at the First Baptist Church on June 12, 1949. Their marriage was one of love, respect, and deep devotion. Throughout their marriage, they celebrated a monthly anniversary on the twelfth of every month – 689 anniversaries in all, serving as a testament to their faithfulness to each other.

Frank and Dottie moved to Berkeley, California, where he attended Berkeley Baptist Divinity School (now
The Seminary of the West). While studying there, they directed the youth program at FBC in Oakland. First son, Frank Leslie, was born in 1951. They moved to Vallejo, where Frank served as Youth Director at FBC in Vallejo. Son Stephen George was born in 1953. Frank worked at the Santa Rita State Prison, where he developed the prison recreation program and taught inmates the boxing skills he developed as a youth. After receiving his Master of Theology Degree and completing requirements for ordination, they returned to South Dakota where Frank became Assistant Pastor, and Dottie was Director of Christian Education at the First Baptist Church of Sioux Falls.

In 1955 they moved to Trent, SD, where Frank served two churches -- Trent Baptist Church and West Baptist Church of Coleman. Daughter Pamela Jo was born that same year, and son Mark Daniel was born in 1959. During their years in Trent, Frank was instrumental in raising funds to build the school gymnasium, upkeep the Trent swimming pool, and support the annual July 4th celebration.

Frank and Dottie faithfully served in other American Baptist Churches including The First Baptist Church of Churdan, IA, The Federated Church of Green Lake, WI, and The First Baptist Church of Red Oak, IA. Frank and Dottie moved to Waupaca, WI, where Frank served two years as Resident Camp Pastor/Caretaker for Camp Tamarack, the Wisconsin American Baptist Church state camp. Although they “retired,” they answered God’s call back to active ministry, serving at the First Baptist Church of Cresco, IA for seven years until they officially retired in 2001. They returned to Green Lake, WI, enjoying 57 years of marriage until Dottie’s death on December 6, 2006. Frank was a member of The Federated Church of Green Lake.

A loving and faithful servant of God and man, Frank has led countless numbers to know and accept Christ as Lord and Savior through teaching and by his example. Part of his personal ministry was to invite those living alone to be a part of the Fagerburg family’s Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinner celebrations. Pastor Frank married 144 couples in his 12 years at The Federated Church, averaging one marriage every month. Frank’s efforts of fund-raising, land acquisition, and new facility planning helped create the Green Lake Senior Center of which he was a member and one-time president.

Frank was known for his work with children, youth, and the elderly in the church and community wherever
he and Dottie lived. Throughout his ministry, he enjoyed serving as camp director/counselor at church camps. While residing in South Dakota, Frank acquired property, developed it, and established a Boys Club for a community lacking programs for youth. He also directed Boy Scout camps while serving as a troop leader in Iowa and Wisconsin. He earned the Order of The Arrow award which honors scouts that best exemplify the Boy Scout oath and law.

Frank received The Rosa O. Hall Award – the highest honor given by the American Baptist Home Mission Societies “for distinguished service to town and country churches.” The University of Sioux Falls honored him with the Dr. Firman A. Early Distinguished Ministry Award “for outstanding Christian leadership and service to church and community.”

Frank had the heart for the mission of Lions Club International -- serving the sight- and hearing-impaired. He attended several International Lions Club Conventions. He received The Melvin Jones Fellowship Award which is
the highest form of recognition a Lion can receive for their charitable work. He was a sixty-year member of the American Legion, with membership currently held at Willis-Chapel Post #306, Green Lake, WI. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and always took delight in seeing an aircraft in the sky, no matter how large or small.

Frank and Dottie enjoyed bringing joy to all. Over the years, they made thousands of telephone calls to sing “Happy Birthday” to those in their churches and communities, sometimes singing to people who didn’t know them. Frank was often seen pulling a nickel or a quarter out of a child’s ear or nose, or making small objects “disappear,” much to the delight of young and old. He carried balloons in his pockets, always prepared to share a simple gift with a child. For years, he and Dottie enjoyed attending the Fellowship of Christian Magicians Convention in Indiana. His quick sense of humor was evident until his last days.

He enjoyed photography, especially photographing people. It was unusual not to see a camera in his hands at church and community events. He was an avid reader. He spent a great deal of time writing cards and letters, and sending them to loved ones. Upon receiving his first computer on his 70th birthday, he began communicating with friends and family via email on a daily basis, until the last few weeks of his life.

It was evident that his family relationships, his friendships, and his work were all built on a foundation of love, and that shall be his legacy.

He is survived by sons Frank (Nancy Schnackel) Fagerburg (Iola, WI), Stephen (Marcia McNutt) Fagerburg (Des Moines, IA), and Mark (Susan Tornow) Fagerburg (Columbus, WI), daughter Pamela Fagerburg (Green Lake, WI), grandchildren Carrie (Scott) Wadding (Shawnee, KS), Brian Fagerburg (Des Moines, IA), Kindra (Rob) Wisniewski (Des Moines, IA), Taylor Fagerburg (Beaverton, OR), and Graham Fagerburg (Columbus, WI), twin great-granddaughters Everly and Elliette Wisniewski (Des Moines, IA), sister Josephine (Paul) Theobald (Bloomington, IL), and sister-in-law Jean (Leo) Clausen (Charles City, IA), and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Frank was predeceased by his wife Dorothy, his parents, and five of his siblings – Paul Fagerburg, Alfred (Portia) Fagerburg, Delmar (Catherine) Fager, Noland (Leona) Fagerburg, and Vanita (Richard) McHenry.

The family is thankful for the care their father and grandfather received from Heartland Hospice -- especially nurse Alex and CNA Beth, the prayerful support of Pastor Karen, the respectful guidance of Butzin-Marchant
Funeral Home, and the friendship of Lill (Willy) Sears who visited Frank every week since becoming neighbors three years prior.

A public celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 4, 2016, at The Federated Church of Green Lake. Visitation will begin at 1:30 pm, followed by a funeral service at 4:00 pm. Full military honors, and interment at Dartford Cemetery, Green Lake, will follow. The Reverend Karen Gygax Rodriguez will officiate. A memorial has been established. Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon is assisting the family.