Sheldon Stadel Frank

Sheldon Stadel Frank 5/17/1930 - 6/14/2026

Sheldon was born on May 17, 1930, in Freeport, Illinois, to Louis and Lydia (Stadel) Frank. He was educated in the Chadwick, Il school system and graduated in 1948. Sheldon attended the University of Illinois and received a Bachelor’s (1952) and Master’s (1953) degree in Music with organ as his primary instrument. He was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa, National Social Fraternity, the Phi Mu Alpha, National Music Honor Fraternity, and the Skull and Crescent Sophomore honorary fraternity. Sheldon played trombone in the University of Illinois Marching Illini Band for 5 years and played and marched in the 1952 Rose Bowl Parade and game. In later years, he served on the University of Illinois Phi Sig alumni board and was president for 6 years.

He served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955. After service, he decided to join the family business and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Sheldon married Virginia Neal on September 24, 1955, in Chicago at the Country Church in the City. They are parents of 3 children: Lisa Anne Frank of Madison (Jane Peckham), Leslie Virginia Frank-Taylor of Madison, and Lorne Neal (Marcia) Frank of Elmhurst, IL. Grandchildren include Abigail Claire Frank-Taylor, Samuel Bennett Frank-Taylor, Logan Neal Frank, and Margot Elizabeth Frank. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as his niece, Liane Ashenfelter (John), and his nephew, Lindsay (Delfa) Frank. He is predeceased by his parents, Louis and Lydia Frank, and his brother and sister-in-law, Lano and Lois Frank.

In 1956, Sheldon started a business partnership with his father, who later retired in 1960. This business, Frank Furniture and Funeral Homes was originally founded by his grandfather, Henry Frank, in 1892. In 1969, a new partnership was formed by Sheldon and Lano Frank with the construction of a new furniture store in Mount Carroll. The Chadwick furniture store was eventually closed, but they continued to operate funeral homes in both Chadwick and Mount Carroll. The funeral business was eventually sold to the Jones family in 1990, and the furniture business was sold to Tim and Tammy Schneider in 1993 after the Frank family had celebrated over 100 years in business in Carroll County.

In 1961, he was one of the founding board of directors of Timber Lake Playhouse. He served on the board for the next 51 years, as president for 21 years and treasurer for 19 years. He and his wife, Virginia, worked tirelessly to develop and sustain the playhouse over the next 5 decades. By ensuring its financial stability, Sheldon helped to make Timberlake Playhouse the longest (currently) running summer stock theater in the state of Illinois. He also served 6 years on the Theatre Advisory Panel of the Illinois Arts Council.

Sheldon became a director of the Farmers State Bank of Mount Carroll and Chadwick in 1987 and continued until the bank was sold in 2002. More recently, he served as a trustee for the Davis Trust Fund. The impact of his successful management of the Davis Trust can be seen in the construction of the Davis Community Center, the Carnegie Library renovation, funds for the Mount Carroll Fire Department, and other community improvements.

Sheldon shared his passion for music throughout his life. For 23 years, he was the organist and choir director at the First Baptist Church, and his entire family sang in the choir when available. He also played piano in the Mount Carroll Stage Band.

Sheldon believed in service to others and the community. He was a member and past president of the Mount Carroll Chamber of Commerce, president for 8 years of the Chadwick School Board, and member/past president of the Mount Carroll Lions Club, where he received the honor of being named a Foundation Fellow. He also served as the regional director of the state board of the Illinois Funeral Directors for 4 years.

His dedication to community service and the arts was recognized in 2006, when Sheldon received the Studs Terkel State of Illinois Humanitarian of the Year Award for his years of work associated with Timber Lake Playhouse and his commitment and service to his community.

In his free time, Sheldon loved to play golf, fish, and play cards with his friends and family.

Services for Sheldon Frank will be held on June 20, 2026, at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mount Carroll. A visitation will be held from 9:30 AM -11:00 AM, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM and graveside ceremony. A luncheon will be held at the Davis Community Center at 1:00 PM. In celebration of Sheldon’s life and legacy, contributions may be made to Timber Lake Playhouse, Agrace Hospice Care, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Virginia Frank’s address is: 139 East Reynolds Street #222, Cottage Grove, WI 53527