Frank Kretek rsFrank F. Kretek, Jr., 93, was called to Heaven on April 4, 2017, surrounded by family, friends and caregivers at his home in El Paso.

Frank was born March 23, 1924 in Deming to Bessie M. Klecka and Frank F. Kretek Sr. and he graduated from Deming HS in 1941. He voluntarily joined the Army Air Services and served from Dec. 11, 1942 until Feb. 19, 1946 and then attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, graduating in 1950. He then spent 35 years working at El Paso Natural Gas Company and a number of years working at the Sunland Park race track. Time with family and friends, golf, sports, his roses and ranch, attending the Fair and the Deming Duck Races, helping to make klobase for the Holy Family Klobase Dinner were what gave Frank great joy as well as his involvement with the Boy Scouts. Frank was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Deming and a Eucharistic Minister at his Parish.

The family wishes to thank Gloria Chacon, Gabriela Crews and Sandra Boyd for their loving care, those special friends who visited and shared life with him, and the Visiting Angels, Outreach and Hospice of El Paso for their compassionate care during the last months of his life.

He is survived by his son Charles 'Chuck' Kretek, and his sons Nicolas King-Kretek and Dominic King; and his daughter Carol (Kretek) Lynch, her husband John Lynch and their daughters Avery and Hayden; his sisters, Gertrude and Geraldine Kretek; Leonard's stepson, Chris Robinson and wife Mary; and Frank's sister-in-law, Sister Carol Nicklas, SNJM, Margo's sister.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Margaret 'Margo' (Nicklas) Kretek; his parents, Frank and Bessie Kretek; and brothers Edward and Leonard Kretek.

Visitation will begin Monday afternoon April 10, 2017 at 5 o'clock at Holy Family Church, where a prayer vigil will begin at 6 o'clock led by Suzanne Lundy. Frank 's life will be celebrated at a Mass of the Christian Burial at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning at Holy Family Church. Concluding services and interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery with Father Ronald Machado, Pastor officiating.

Pallbearers are Jerry Prewitt, John March, Wade Worrell, Chris Robinson, John Lynch, and Steve Malachowski. Honorary pallbearers are Fletcher Shanty Bowman, Bob Kadel, Mike Peterson, Gary Bales, Mark Terry, Steve Vines, Jim Meyers, and John Devery.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at Queen of Peace Church in El Paso at a later date.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.