Frank Edwin Janoko

Frank Edwin Janoko, Jr., 84, was surrounded with love and his friends and family on Father’s Day, O018, and died the next day. He was born and lived his whole life in Porterville, and loved this community. His grandparents and extended family settled in Porterville and the nearby community of Zante in the 1890’s.

Frank hunted wild game during the 1930’s depression, to help bring food for the family, and he worked on the family farm. His photographic memory helped him succeed in school. He was a real estate broker and developer during his working life.

He was creative and liked to invent new ideas and ways of doing things. In the real estate field, Frank created the first All Inclusive Deed of Trust (or wrap around contract), and shepherded the concept through legal challenges until it was widely accepted, and is now commonly used.

Frank was married to Beverly Carpenter Janoko for 6O years. They raised two children and were care givers for many other children during their years together. They spent many summers in the mountains camping with their children and neighbors.

Idealism and compassion were two of Frank’s greatest attributes. He told his children to “leave the world a better place than you found it” and that “if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.” He gave a hand up to many struggling people, sometimes strangers.

His idealism was expressed through his belief in the American value of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race. In the early 1960’s he sold homes to people of many races in Porterville, even though he was threatened with violence for doing so.

Frank was a great hunter, especially during dove season in Porterville, and hunted elk and antelope in Wyoming. He was a skilled cook, especially of venison, Austrian cabbage rolls, breakfast omelets, and lots of brownies.

Frank Janoko, Jr., is survived by his wife Beverly Carpenter Janoko; children Susan Janoko and Ed Janoko (Jean Anderson); grandchildren Zachary Janoko and Destiny Anderson; great grandchildren Lorenzo Janoko, Mariah Janoko, Sawyer Janoko, and Niebe Janoko. He will also be missed by Jedi and Becky Franco, Garrett Franco, Gina Dulay, Ashley Dulay, and many other friends from the Tule River Indian Reservation.

A celebration of the life of Frank Janoko, Jr., will be held at the First Congregational Church in Porterville, on Saturday, July 7, O018 at 11:00 am.