Frank R. Sleyko

Frank R. Sleyko, US Army veteran, born Dec 19 1946, died early in the morning of February 11, 2025. Husband of 38 years to Barbara G. Rizzo; father to Katherine Sleyko and Jennifer Sleyko; loving son of the late Joseph and Violet Sleyko; dear brother of Robert Sleyko; beloved brother-in-law to John E. (late) & Sharon Rizzo, Susan & Edward Harrison, Cynthia Sleyko, Paul Rizzo, Mary Jane & Greg Antonov; dear uncle of John Rizzo, Michael Rizzo, Andrew Sleyko, Matthew Sleyko, Edward Harrison, and Michael Harrison (late); treasured family of James Podrasky and Ayumi Hatori, great-uncle and great-great uncle to many others.

Frank was a bright, loud, boisterous youth. His gregarious personality brought in friends for life, including his best friend Rick Diest and others like Mike Flannery, George Podrasky, and more. In college, he was a consummate frat boy, whose partying antics involve only one broken bone and one unserious car accident. However, dropping one class made him eligible for the Vietnam War draft, and he joined the army as a draftee in 1966. His brains came in handy during this time, since he took every training available until he ran out his term. Unfortunately, one training injured both his knees in a fall, leaving him disabled for life. His bachelor lifestyle came to a close on the luckiest night of his life when he met Barbara at Rupert’s 33 in 1983. Her family welcomed him with open arms, as well as too many shots of slivovitz—in a move copied 25 years early from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. They married in 1986 and welcomed beloved daughters Katherine in 1987 and Jennifer in 1989. After retiring, he became a full-time dad, living a high life of chauffeuring children to school, cousin sleepovers, Girl Scouts, pottery classes, soccer games, and swim meets.

Known for his love of politics—and, later on, Rachel Maddow—his eternal good humor and bad jokes earned him fast friends. He was deeply incapable of being anything other than he was, and despite being able to spew bull easily, his breadth of knowledge let him give informed, thoughtful responses to any topic.

Soldier on, Frank.

Family and Friends are to gather for the Visitation on Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Russo's Hillside Chapels, 4500 Roosevelt Road, Hillside, Illinois 60162 (Located between Mannheim & Wolf Road). Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated promptly at 11:00 a.m. at St. Giles Catholic Church, 1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. Interment will remain private. For additional information please call (708) 449-5300.

In lieu of flowers, donation to Disabled American Veterans or the American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated. 

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