Franklin D. Munkres M.D.

At first the family lived on their small ranch Northeast of Douglas. The little ramshackle house had a woodburning stove, a “pitcher pump” by the sink, and a “Hoosier” cabinet. The icebox was filled with ice cut from a pond, and lighting was a pair of kerosene lamps. Of course, there was the outhouse. On nice days his mother would check the yard for rattlesnakes and then he could play outside with the two “ranch dogs” and his ever-present imaginary friend Kemmesser. When he turned four, they moved to a small home in South Douglas so he could attend kindergarten.

In high school he worked six days a week, first at the LaBonte Hotel, then at the Safeway store.

In 1959, he joined the Wyoming Army National Guard for a nine- year obligation. Douglas was the forward support battery for Wyoming’s Field Artillery Brigade. He served as a truck driver and assistant mechanic. On graduation day, May 25, 1960, he left home permanently and boarded the train for active duty at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri.

He attended the University of Wyoming from 1962 to 1966 where he majored in Zoology. He completed his requirements plus five additional graduate level courses, as well as, basic courses for minor degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry.

He was invited to join “Iron Skull” premedical society and Alpha Epsilon Delta premedical honor society. He worked summers as a truck driver and assistant mechanic, and during school as a research assistant. He graduated with honors free of debt in 1966.

He attended the University of Colorado School of Medicine from 1966 to 1970. A straight A student, he was awarded a scholarship and cash award in each of the four years. He managed the apartments where he lived during the first two years. During the second two years he covered the obstetric unit at General Rose Hospital on “free weekends” (not on call). He was invited to join Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and awarded the AOA gold key and green and gold “honor cord” to wear with his cap and gown.

During the fourth year he worked for three months at a Catholic charity hospital in Brooklyn. While in New York, he had the opportunity to meet Margot Seitleman, the head of American Mensa, and passed the test in her office.

He graduated from medical school with honors free of debt in 1970.

He then moved to Dartmouth in Hanover N.H. for an internship and residency. During his residency he worked on “free weekends” covering the emergency room at Springfield Vermont Hospital.

He returned to the University of Colorado for an additional two years of medical residency, the second year of which was voluntary to round out his training as a general internist. During those years he worked “free weekends” covering the Denver Veterans Hospital Emergency Room.

In 1974, he joined Marquette Internal Medicine Associates in Marquette Michigan, where he served as president for many years. In 1979, he was elected president of Marquette Medical Center, a group of about 65 doctors, with a plan to build a large addition to accommodate new medical and surgical subspecialists, so people wouldn’t need to leave the area for comprehensive care. Within a few years the number of doctors in the center had nearly doubled.

After settling in Marquette, he started running and cross-country skiing. He qualified and ran the Boston Marathon in 1981.

In 1982, he and his sons joined Marquette Tae Kwon Do, a traditional martial arts school. He earned his first-degree black belt in 1986. When the “second in command” of the school had to leave for an out of area work assignment, he taught his weekly class for 1 1/2 years at no charge to the school.

He first met Sherry as a new patient in the mid-70s. The surprising development was in 1990 when they met at a cocktail party and realized that they were both in the process of divorcing. Not long after, they started dating, and married in March of 1994. Frank always said he didn’t have a chance, “Sherry was kind, sweet, beautiful, and has that smile that can “light up a room.”

He started sailing in Marquette, and when Sherry became interested, they bought a 33 foot boat that they sailed in Lake Superior. Nearing retirement, they bought a summer home in Escanaba, Michigan and a new 36 foot boat to cruise the islands and bays of northern Lake Michigan. Frank became Coast Guard qualified to personally charter boats up to 52 feet, and they sailed in many locations in Florida, the Keys, the Bahamas, and Chesapeake Bay. Each winter they would invite friends to cruise the British Virgin Islands.

In retirement, they first moved to Florida, but because of damage from Hurricane Charley, they moved to Arizona in 2005. They then moved to Bay Harbor, MI for a few years, but then back to Surprise, AZ in 2021.

In his leisure time, Frank has enjoyed sketching and painting, reading, playing golf, restoring and driving his 1925 Chevrolet truck, and traveling the world with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry L. (Elgas) Munkres and his sons, Stephen and Ronda Munkres and Michael Munkres; Stephen’s sons, Jackson and Henry; his stepsons, Jeffrey and Kristen Demboski and Andrew and Shannon Demboski, Jeff’s sons, Tyler and Cody; and Andy’s sons, Ryan and Brenden and by his sister, Ellen Dennis.