Frank Bilicki

Frank J. "Red" Bilicki, 98, of Lawrence passed away on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at the home where he resided with his niece and caretaker, Maryann Kaslow.

He was born in Wakefield on July 2, 1914 to the late Victoria (Zaremski) and Anthony Bilicki who both immigrated to this country from Poland. He was raised and educated in Wakefield. He loved driving and become a career truck driver. He started out hauling produce from Maine farms and went on to Buffalo and Binghamton, NY. He worked his way down to Baltimore, MD where he made weekly runs to Morgan City, LA to pick up shrimp and bring it back to Baltimore, MD.

In 1941, he entered the U.S. Army and proudly went to war to serve his country. He was part of Operation Torch which led to the defeat of the Axis Powers in North Africa. It was two days after the allies captured Tripoli that he was severely wounded when the jeep he was driving was attacked. Frank suffered severe head and internal injuries. It was reported that he was the first soldier from Wakefield wounded in the North African Conflict. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Army, American Defense, Victory World War II, American Campaign, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medals.

When he recovered from his injuries, he returned to his passion of driving trucks. He hauled venetian blinds and steel for Rodney Metals/Allegahney Technologies Inc. in New Bedford, MA from which he retired after 30 years of service. He still had a valid driver's license at the time of his death.

A life member of both the Wakefield Elks Lodge 1276 and the Crystal Community Club he was also a Red Sox and Patriots Fan.

Although he never married, he was everyone's "Favorite Uncle" and his stories and bits of wisdom will be missed by all.

He is survived by one brother, John A. Bilicki Sr. of Wildwood, FL and several nieces and nephews

He was predeceased by two sisters, Mary B. Kaslow and Julia C. Brown and one brother, Stephen Bilicki.

A funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Saturday at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield at 10 o'clock. A visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 4 – 7 p.m. Interment will be at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield.

Read Frank Bilicki's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Friday, July 20, 2012, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Service

St. Joseph Church
173 Albion Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Saturday, July 21, 2012, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Cemetery

Forest Glade Cemetery
Lowell Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Saturday, July 21, 2012, 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM