Frank G. Hasik II

Frank George Hasik ll, 83, of Kankakee, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at his home surrounded by family. Frank George Hasik II can be described most in 3 ways. Family man, Pepsi man, and Fireman. Frank married his bride of 63 years, and his high school sweetheart Donnarae Douglas July 2, 1960. Frank and his wife Donnarae raised their 4 children, Frank George III, Danah Anne, Shannon Kelly, and Tina Marie where he built their home in the Skyline subdivision in Kankakee. Frank was raised on a farm with his brother John Hasik, where it is now known as the entrance ramp to I-57 at the 312 exits. He was known as a working man holding up to 4 jobs at one time to provide for his family. Franks got his first job at Roper in West Kankakee in 1958 before he graduated in 1959. Frank also took many odd jobs on the side to keep the lights on for his family of five. He would work at the Conner Company delivering appliances, then drive a tractor-trailer hauling sand, dirt, steel and fertilizer, then found time to work a gas station overnight until he had to go back to work in the morning. It was during this time that he took a job at Pepsi only as a temporary position. He was quickly hooked within the company becoming salesman of the month, month after month and salesman of the year, several years in a row. He had done so well that Pepsi created a position for him as the Merchandising Supervisor. From there he went to Munster Indiana and became the district supervisor. His fellow co-workers loved working with him because he wasn’t afraid to jump in, get dirty, and help them through their day. In 1987 he became the branch manager of the Pepsi plant in his hometown of Kankakee. He was always involved and donated to organizations within our community. From the Boatraces to baseball teams, to the DARE program, and Dad’s against drunk driving he was always there to lend a hand or make a donation. In October of 1999 he retired from Pepsi, but not from working. He spent 6 months completing Donnarae’s long overdue “honey-due list.” Then went right back to working for the Labeau brothers hauling semi’s and 53-foot trailers across the county with his good buddy Adrien Raymond. When asked what took him so long to get back to work, he said, “I had to make sure things got done around the house to keep my Donnrae happy!’’ Frank also served on the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District for 52 consecutive years. He joined the volunteer fire service back in 1962 and rose through the ranks holding the title of Fire Chief for 17 years. After he retired from 26 years of active duty, he served as the Fire Department President of Trustees for the next 26 years where he retired from the district in 2014. During Franks tenure as Fire Chief, he brought in much needed training to the department sending firefighters to become state certified which was not a common thing to be a certified firefighter back in the 70’s. Frank was also in intracule part in starting the Kankakee Vally Fire Investigation team with long time Arson Investigator, and Retired Fire Chief Patrick Holohan. That service still exists in Kankakee County to this day. Franks passion in the fire service was primarily focused on training and making sure the firefighters had the proper equipment. He was able to obtain several state funded items for the department through his persistent efforts such as the first “Fire Chief Buggy,’’ pagers, tools, and fire apparatus. Frank is survived by his wife Donnarae; son, Frank George III; daughter, Shannon Kelly; grandsons, Zach, Frank IV, Casey, Nicholas, and 8 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his two daughters; Danah, Tina; daughter in law, Denise. Cremation rites have been accorded and the family will hold a private service at a later date.