Frank Robert Slavik
March 4, 1939 - July 18, 2009
Obituary
Frank R. ‘Bob’ Slavik
March 4, 1939 – July 18, 2009
Bob was born in Salmon, Idaho and died in Burien Washington. His family moved to Pocatello in 1954 where he finished high school and earned an AA degree in Engineering from Idaho State College. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from the U of Idaho in Moscow, in 1961. Bob was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army and completed his two years of service on July 18, 1963. He married Irma Lee Wentz July 13, 1962, he then moved to Burien August 1963, and began his family with the birth of his son Michael Robert on October 12th, 1965 and daughter Lisa Marie Slavik Bechtold on December 22, 1967.
After becoming a proud and loving father, he continued his education and completed course work for a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering at Seattle University, and became certified as a Professional Engineer working for The Boeing Company until he retired in 1995 32 years. The favorite family destination was Spirit Lake, Washington, at the foothills of Mount St. Helens. This of course was prior to her eruption, after that, the preferred family destination became the vacation home at Blue Lake in Eastern Washington, where much fun was had water skiing, fishing and boating.
In 1999 he became a beloved ‘Opa’ with the birth of his granddaughter Calista Aniek Bechtold and again in 2001 with the birth of his grandson Thorijan Hutton Bechtold. ‘Opa’ enjoyed spending many hours making furniture and toys for and with his beloved grandchildren in his workshop. They will forever cherish the time spent with him and the treasures they created. Bob was an avid outdoorsman and included his family in many of his adventures. He climbed mountains all of the major peaks in the Northwest, Orizaba in Mexico, and attempted Chimborazo in Ecuador kayaked white water, skied, fished, hunted for deer and elk, sailed, camped with his family, and after breaking his hip while skiing in 1977 regularly swam laps for the rest of his life. He changed sports activities over the years, but did not let multiple hip surgeries keep him down. He was a master woodworker. His grandson Thorijan remembers ‘Opa could build anything’. He repaired and built anything he needed for his outdoor activities and completed major home remodels and building projects on the two family homes owned in Burien and the vacation home on Blue Lake in Eastern Washington. He was a deacon and active in a couple’s group at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, belonged to the Mountaineers, and later volunteered at Highline Medical Center. He liked to read particularly action/adventure novels. He loved classical music and attended the symphony and the opera. His granddaughter Calista remembers fondly ‘when driving in the car Opa would quiz me on what instruments were playing on the radio and that was fun’.
Bob’s travels included jungle training with the army in Panama, climbing in Ecuador, Peru and Mexico. Business and pleasure travel to France, Sweden, and Ireland. Family travels took him to visit Irma’s sisters and brothers in West and East Germany.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Doris Wooley Slavik. He is survived by his wife Irma, son Michael, daughter Lisa, two grandchildren Calista and Thorijan Bechtold, and sister Anita Larry Seitz. A memorial service will be held at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church on July 26 at 2:00 p.m. 15003 – 14th Ave. SW, Burien, WA.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Highline Medical Center Volunteer Program.
Share memories with the family at www.bonneywatson.com.
We have been hunting for Bob to have him come to a Wesley College Group get together at Wiley’s Ranch in Idaho…
Just found out Bob passed away. We have been hunting his address for years…. Sorry he’s gone.
Ralph and Katherine Allen
We miss Frank here at the City of Tukwila Pool.
Dear Irma and family
We are so sorry about Bob’s passing. It seems like yesterday are kids were small and we were living next door. Our prayers are with you.
Phil and Sandy
Our thoughts are certainly with you, Irma, and your family. We are genuinely saddened by your loss of dear Bob.
Irma and Family,
On behalf of the volunteers at Highline Medical Center our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. We were so fortunate to have Bob as a volunteer here at Highline giving his gift of time, energy and talents to our organization. Thank you for sharing him with us…..
To Bob’s family please accept my deepest sympathies. I enjoyed
visiting with him on Sunday’s.
He was a very smart man who touched
all who knew him. And will be missed by all.
To the Family of ” Bob ” My prayers are with you all at this time in your life. I want you to know that as a friend of Bob’s he will surely be miss by all that loved him. What a gentle man. May God bless and watch over you all. I’m thankful that I got to meet him,he will aways be in my thoughts,Thanks for being there Bob.
Your Friend,
Roosevelt
My prayers and thoughts go out to Irma and her family. I knew Bob and Irma through their work and volunteer activities at Highline Medical Center. He will be missed by many.
WE were sorry to hear about Bobs death. Have thought of you often after leaving Burien. Do keep up with Glo and Ian. Good memories of soccerthose were the good yearsand skiing. We are well here and enjoying doing Nada. Spend half the year in Mazaltan. Take care, our thoughts are with you at this time. Love Judy and Bill
I am so sorry to hear about Bob. I met Bob in 1993 when he came into Highline Medical Center to volunteer. I truly enjoyed getting to know him. Bob always went above and beyond the call of duty. I remember calling him countless times to come in and volunteer on days that were not his regular volunteer shift and he always came in ready to help. I will miss his smile and his amazing heart. Thank you Bob for making a difference in my life.
We have many good memories of Bob. We shared our families’ birthdays and many other holidays. He will be missed by all of his friends and family.
Dear dear Irma and family I am so
sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you all at this sad
time. May you find strength in God’s
words and his love.
Dear Irma, Michael & Lisa,
I am so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. Even though I just met all of you, I know how much Steve thought of your family. You are included in my prayers.
Irma-
Denzil and I are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our prayers are with you.
Marijane
in loving memory