Obituaries

 

Frank A. Rhyme

PORTAGE – Beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Frank A. Rhyme, age 87, passed away in Portage on Sunday, June 3, 2012 with family at his side.  Frank was born on September 16, 1924 in Portage, the son of William and Mary (McGee) Rhyme.  He married Mary “China” Chynoweth in 1948.

A life-long resident of Portage, Frank graduated from Portage High School and attended UW Madison for one semester before enlisting in the U.S. Army Infantry in 1943.  He was transferred to the Army Air Force where he became a radio operator and a B24 gunner.  Assigned to the South Pacific, he was stationed in the Philippines with the 15th Army Air Force.  He was awarded the Army Medal for twenty-four successful missions earning two Oak Leaf Clusters.

Frank then attended the UW Pharmacy School in Madison, graduating in 1950.  He started his career as a third generation pharmacist at Rhyme Drugs in Portage, a business started by his grandfather in the 1880’s.  He was active in the State Pharmaceutical Association and served one term as president. He also helped his father, William Rhyme, start and operate the Rhyme Supply Company.  After making it successful, they sold the business.  To their credit, it still operates under the Rhyme name here in Wisconsin. 

As a successful business owner in downtown Portage, Frank did much more than provide prescription services.  The drug store also operated a lunch counter, a Hallmark card department, and an extensive camera corner.  In 1978, Frank moved the pharmacy from its historic location on East Cook Street down the block to a larger building.  There he renovated the new location into a large, modern pharmacy with a drive up window.  After 30 years, he sold the business and joined Northwestern Mutual Life as its local Portage representative.  He served many Portage area residents and their families until his ultimate retirement in 2004.

Frank was active in downtown Portage business groups including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and served for many years on the city Parking Commission.  He was actively engaged in many civic activities including volunteering as a member of the Divine Savior Hospital Board for two terms.  Frank served as president on that board in 1993-94.

Frank’s third career involved being a sports photographer.  In 1979, he and his wife China purchased and successfully rejuvenated the North American Curling News, which they published from their home office for many years.  Serving as the magazine photographer, Frank traveled around the world with China to cover major curling events, helping make Portage well known throughout the curling world.  The paper was sold to the U.S. Curling Association which still publishes it today. 

Frank’s true passions were golfing and curling.  As a member of the Portage County Club for over 60 years, he served on the Board of Directors for many years and multiple terms as president.  He loved playing golf with his family and particularly enjoyed teaching family and friends how to improve their game.

One of the club’s first junior curlers, Frank was a member of the Portage Curling Club from the age of twelve.  He served on the Board of Directors for many years and as president twice.  He helped organize many national events hosted by the club and coached the high school girls’ curling team.  Frank curled at the club level and in state bonspiels well into his eighties.  The club recognized Frank’s contributions with a Lifetime Achievement Award in April 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Mary “China”, Portage; five children, William (Janice Jennings) Rhyme, Green Bay, Richard (Anne Rodgers-Rhyme) Rhyme, Madison, Margaret (Ron Frager) Rhyme, Denver, Colorado, Robert (Sissel Svanoe) Rhyme, Denver, Colorado and Nancy (Jim Carpenter) Rhyme, Denver, Colorado;  his grandchildren:  Megan, Katherine, Kristen and Kimberly Rhyme;  Jamieson Rhyme and Emily (Mark DiGirolamo) Rodgers;  Laura and Elizabeth Stevens;  Rebecca Rhyme and Christopher (Whitney) Rhyme;  Emma and Nicholas Carpenter;  a great-granddaughter, Stella DiGirolomo; and many close friends.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.  Inurnment will be private.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2012 and 9:30 until 10:30 on Saturday June 16, 2012 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage. 

(In lieu of flowers) donations may be made in support of junior curling at the Portage Curling Club (Frank Rhyme Memorial), C/O Portage Curling Club, P.O. Box 55, Portage, WI 53901 or the Portage Country Club (Frank Rhyme Memorial), C/O Portage Country Club, P.O. Box 382, Portage, WI 53901.

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)