Francis Schosser

Francis B. (Frank) Schosser, formerly of Kankakee, Illinois and El Paso, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at the age of 76, following a long illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, May 23, 2011 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Sunday at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Quad-Cities Animal Welfare Center in Milan, Illinois.

Frank was born December 26, 1934 in Kankakee, to Frank & Hattie (Weiss) Schosser. He grew up and was educated in Kankakee. In 1953, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for four years, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served another four years in the Air Force Reserves.

In 1957, when he returned to Kankakee after an honorable discharge from the Air Force, he went to work for the A.O. Smith Corporation, manufacturer of water heaters. He worked his way up through the company and eventually became an Agency Engineer, responsible for taking commercial heaters through both the U.S. and Canadian Gas Agencies for approval.

In 1986, when portions of A.O. Smith moved to El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico, Frank moved with them, working in the El Paso office in his position of Agency Engineer. He officially retired in 1999 after forty-two years with the company. He was a resident of El Paso for twenty-three years.

Frank had a life-long love of photography and, along with his wife, was the owner/operator of a busy part-time business in Kankakee from 1972 until 1986 when they moved to El Paso. In that period of time, they photographed more that 500 weddings, portraits, family groups and school dances, and he was known as the photographer with the “flat-top” haircut. He also did commercial photography.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife of fifty years, the former Myrna Bernier as well as their two children, Gina (Dave) Weaver of Davenport, Iowa and Karl Schosser(Bob Yturralde) of El Paso; his grandchildren, Karl Mallory and Libby Weaver; and his little dog, Sara.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Juanita Morrison-Gilbert.

The family wishes to thank the Bettendorf Fire Department and Rescue Squad, the staff of Trinity Bettendorf ER, Trinity Pathway Hospice and Father McAleer and the parish of St. John Vianney for their help, care and concern.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Frank’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com