Francisco R. Calvo

Francisco R. “Frank” Calvo Jr., 74, of Elkhart died on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Elkhart General Hospital surrounded by his wife, children and extended family.

Frank was born February 6, 1948 in Tampa, FL to the late Francisco R. and Maria (Fernandez) Calvo Sr.

On August 7, 1998 he married Kathleen Dobson Krauter in Elkhart.  She survives along with three sons: Tommy (Colette) Krauter of Edwardsburg, MI, Micah Calvo of FL, Gavin Calvo of Elkhart; one daughter, Cami Buss of Osceola, IN; five grandchildren: Zach, Savannah and Haeyle Buss and Jackson and Monroe Krauter.

Frank was born and raised in the Cuban corridor of Ybor City in Tampa, Fl. His mother worked in the cigar factories and his father was a beverage distributor. He loved the Cuban culture and was very proud of his heritage. His love of Florida never waned, visiting often with his wife, children and grandchildren. He enjoyed the music, art, food and especially the bakeries. He held a special place in his heart for the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City where his parents spent many nights dancing to traditional Cuban Rumba music. In his youth, Frank spent his summers in New York City with his beloved uncle and artist, Tony Fernandez, and was immersed in the culture of 1950’s downtown Manhattan.

Frank’s lifelong ties to Florida began with his great-grandfather, Antonio Diaz Carrasco, who immigrated to the United States from Havana, Cuba, and became the first Cuban consulate to the United States from 1903 until his death in 1915. Carrasco’s house in Key West, Fl, still stands as a historic place of interest. Ernest Hemingway’s good friend, Sloppy Joe Russell, purchased the house in the early 20th century and Senator Bill Neblett occupied the home until 1977.

In 1964, at the age of 16, Frank graduated from Santiago del Palmer High School in Puerto Rico. Immediately after, he was accepted to study engineering at Tri-State University in Angola, IN. He loved building and worked in the commercial manufactured structures industry for over 50 years, owning his own company, Arrow Mobile Structures, and ended his long career at AGM Structures in Elkhart, IN as their GM. He was also a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, as well as many organizations in his industry.

​Frank loved to golf with his youngest son, Gavin. Becoming a father again later in life, he savored every moment and was present for every practice, game, and school function. Being an only child, Frank embraced the chaos of his wife’s tight knit and large Italian family, thoroughly enjoying the Sunday dinners and holiday gatherings. His favorite place in the world was sitting around the dinner table or in the backyard having a few beers and spending time with his wife and kids. On the weekends, Frank could always be found at either his wife’s gym as the “Maintenance Man in Chief,” or in his garage with his Cuban music on the stereo, enjoying an ice-cold Coors, and much to his wife’s dismay, planning one of his many projects for their home. His unexpected passing is a heartbreaking loss to his family, friends and colleagues.

Visitation for Frank will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022 from 4 pm until 7 pm at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home.  The Holy Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 24 at 10:00 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.  The Rev. Jason Frieburger will officiate. Cremation will take place and burial will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions in memory of Frank may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 3 International Drive, Suite 200 Rye Brook, NY 10573, or visit www.givenow.lls.org

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