Edward Frank

MADISON - The Eagle has landed.

Edward “Ed” Frank, age 93, of Madison, Wis., passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Ed grew up on the banks of Cedar Creek at the family dairy farm with his sister and two brothers. He graduated from Cedarburg High School with honors in 1950. He was CHS student Council President for two years, Junior Prom King and a chorus member for four years. Ed was a varsity letter winner on CHS championship football and basketball teams and earned three varsity letters in baseball. He was inaugurated into the Cedarburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. Ed enjoyed attending his 75th CHS Reunion just last year.

Sports changed his life when his coach, Vince Cibik, encouraged him to try for a scholarship to Marquette University (BS 1954 and MS 1957). He played football there from 1952 until 1954. He was Co-Captain of the 1953 team and received honorable mention on three All-American Teams. Ed was always proud of being drafted by the Green Bay Packers (1954 pre-season). Edward married Bernadine Gleissner in January of 1954 in Milwaukee, and they had two children (Marie in 1955 and Peg in 1958).

Ed held two degrees in biology but wanted to be the first PhD in Wildlife Ecology. Neither UW-Madison nor Marquette had a program at the time, so he worked on his PhD at both until 1967 but never obtained that degree. He worked 33 years for the Department of Natural Resources, starting as a tech on John Gates Pheasant Research Project, then becoming a game manager at Elkhorn until he transferred two years later to Wildlife Research Project Leader for the Experimental Upland Game Habitat Management at Waterloo Wildlife Area. He transferred to Bureau of Wildlife Management Staff in 1969 and was the first to occupy the position of Farm Game Staff Specialist. Ed also served on many inter-agency committees including the Federal level that included work with the USDA on wetlands and agricultural land retirement programs. In 1977, Ed was reassigned to the Bureau of Planning to work on comprehensive wildlife planning in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service. He returned to the Bureau of Wildlife in 1983 as Upland Wildlife Ecologist. His proudest achievement was the successful reintroduction of wild turkeys. Edward retired in 1991 but remained active in many wildlife organizations up until last year. In 2007, he received The Wisconsin Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the Wildlife Society - In Recognition of Exceptional Contribution to the Conservation of Wisconsin’s Wildlife Resources. Soon after retiring, Ed joined the Association of Retired Conservationists and was elected WCOA representative in 2004 with Jim Miller the alternate. This gave rise to monthly “Ex-cons” lunches and the “Frank N. Miller” monthly report to Madison’s SW chapter of ARC.

Outdoors was always where he was happiest, whether it be gardening, hunting or just digging dandelions. Ed and Deane bought a cabin on Deer Lake north of Spooner in 1991 and enjoyed many happy hours there with friends and family. After retirement Ed and Deane traveled regularly to Las Vegas, Florida, Arizona, Hawaii and Alaska. Their trip of a lifetime was a photo safari to Africa with Peg and her family in 2007 where he had to stop their safari truck to photograph every single bird they saw.

Ed is survived by his two daughters, Marie (Cliff) Smith and Peg Frank (Mike Thrasher); his two granddaughters, Rebecca (Matt Jorgenson) and Grace; plus our newest addition, great-grandson, Edward Jorgenson.

Thank you to all the family and friends who called and visited with him over the years and especially during his last days at St Mary’s.

Memorials are recommended to the Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Olbrich Gardens, or Wisconsin Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society

One of Peg and Marie’s best experiences at St. Mary’s during Ed’s final days was seeing the same molting Red-tailed Hawk repeatedly fly by the window to see if Ed was ready to fly too.

Ed and Deane were inseparable for 67 years. Now they are together again.

A celebration of life will be held at OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS, 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

For more information on Ed’s life please visit: tinyurl.com/me838js8

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420