Folk, MD, Dr. Frank A.

It is with great sorrow that the family of longtime Naperville resident Dr. Frank A. Folk, MD announces his passing on Saturday January 30, 2021, at the age of 95, peacefully at home.

Dr. Folk was born in Chicago on December 15, 1925 to Frank and Anna Folk, both immigrants from Europe. He was a graduate of Northwestern University and completed medical school in 1949 at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He and his wife Lorna (Lonnie) Collette Hill were married on June 18, 1949, as he started his internship and residency at Cook County Hospital.

Dr. Folk was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, serving in the Korean War as a battalion surgeon and the Commanding Officer of Easy Medical Company, a Marine Corps field hospital. He received a commendation and was awarded the Bronze Star with a Combat “V” in 1953.

Following the war, Dr. and Mrs. Folk returned to Chicago, where he completed his surgical training at Cook County Hospital. In 1958, he and his growing family moved to rural Naperville (population 7,000), where he joined the Wolf Medical Group to begin practice as the town’s first surgeon and was Chief of Surgery at the newly established Edward Hospital. During that time he continued to serve as a clinical instructor at Loyola Medical School and to volunteer on the surgical staff at Cook County Hospital.

He formally joined the Cook County Hospital surgical staff as acting Chief of Surgery from 1969 to 1972, and was also director of the breast tumor service. Dr. Folk joined the surgical staffs at the Hines VA, serving as Chief of Surgical Services from 1972 to 1995, and Loyola University Medical Center, being named Professor of Surgery in 1972 and Emeritus Professor of Surgery in 1996. He officially retired from practice in 1999, while continuing his relationship with the medical community in an advisory capacity.

Dr. Folk contributed to various professional publications and to A History of Surgery at Cook County Hospital. He served as an officer and a member to a number of associations, and valued life-long learning as a regular conference attendee. He was a governor of the American College of Surgeons since 1991, and served as president of several major surgical and medical societies. Over the course of his career, he used his skill and experience in treating thousands of patients with care and compassion, and instructed hundreds of doctors in developing their surgical talents. A student of his remarked, “He was a classy man. God gave him many wonderful gifts, and he generously shared them with all of us.” He was respected and loved by fellow professionals and patients; nurses in the operating room adored him for his graciousness and patience, although some anesthesiologists may have protested his singing. A lifelong colleague remembered, “Frank was and still is considered truly one of nature’s noblemen by all who knew him well.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved Lonnie (in 2009), their first great-grandchild Sachamayu Frank Van Arsdell (in 2014), and son-inlaw Gary Kopitke (in 2020).

He is survived by their children Laura (Wayne Spangler), Lawrence, Patricia Kopitke, Elizabeth (Stephen) Van Arsdell, Tom (Kathy), Mary (Robert) Shutt, James (Susan), Tracy (Thomas) Bennington, and William (Melanie); 26 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 15, 2021, 4:00-8:00 PM at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL. Current health guidelines state that no more than 50 individuals at a time may pay their respects to the family, and guests are required to wear masks and follow social distancing procedures.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 16, 11:00 AM at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 36 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville. The funeral mass will be live-streamed. Please go to www.friedrich-jones.com and click on Dr. Folk’s obituary.

Interment: SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Naperville, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials to “The Frank and Lorna Folk Scholarship Fund” at Saints Peter & Paul School , c/o Advancement Office, 36 N. Ellsworth Ave., Naperville, IL 60540, (630) 355-0113, https://www.sspeterandpaulschool.com/ or Benet Academy, 2200 Maple Ave., Lisle, IL 60532, (630) 9696550, benet.org org or the charitable organization of your choice would be appreciated.

For more information, please visit www.friedrichjones.com or call (630) 355-0213.

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