Those of us who wish to live to celebrate our 100th birthday and be in good health to enjoy the party, take a tip from Frank Sisulak of Riverside who celebrated his first century July 26. Sisulak, who has lived in Riverside since 1947, owes his good health to a lifetime of physical and mental activity.

The birthday celebrations began July 12 at Lac du Flambeau, Wis., at a party given by Barb and Ken Draeger.

On July 23, the second round of celebrations began. Sisulak was back at his old haunts, at the Geneva National Gary Player Golf Course in Lake Geneva, Wis. This year, he showed his expertise at putting on the greens and serving as scorekeeper. After resting, the next round of parties continued.

On July 24, Sisulak, his friends and family dined at Gilbert’s Restaurant in Lake Geneva. Cousin Ken Hnilo is the owner and chef of the restaurant.

“On Friday, July 25, we made the journey from Lake Geneva to Milwaukee (Frank’s birthplace), where we had dinner overlooking Lake Michigan at Harbor 550, a great restaurant near the Milwaukee Art Institute,” said son Tom, a 1965 grad of Riverside Brookfield High School. “There happened to be a big convention of high school principals at the Milwaukee Art Institute, and since I spent 33 years in the field of education, we crashed the party. The principals were enjoying a polka party (that’s what they do in Milwaukee), and when they learned Dad was celebrating his 100th, they all joined in as the band played ‘Happy Birthday.’”

“Wait, wait, there’s more,” said Tom as his father nodded his head with a happy smile playing on his face.

“On Saturday morning, we went to (Wrigley Field) and saw the Cubs lose. We were out on the field before the game began. People were wishing Dad a happy birthday. The Cubs band played ‘Happy Birthday,’ and everyone wanted their picture taken with him. At the end of the game, a 9-year-old boy named Daniel from Miami came up to Dad and gave him a foul ball that he had caught. The boy was traveling with his father and grandfather. Inasmuch as I had a bag of new balls, Dad endorsed a new ball for the boy, who was happy with the exchange.”

Not through partying yet. Sunday was the day of the biggest party of all, which was at Frank and Tom’s church, the United Methodist Church in Riverside. There, 110 relatives and friends from all around the country gathered to celebrate not only the 100th birthday of Frank, but the first birthday of 1-year-old Fiona, the daughter of the Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan and Josh Hammond.

At this event, church services were from 10 to 11 a.m., and the party was from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Joseph “Standing Bear” Schranz of the Ojibwa Indian Nation and founder of Midwest Save Our Ancestors Remains and Resources Indigenous Network Group, a Native American Cultural organization working to preserve the sacred lands of Native Americans, awarded Frank the Warriors Medal of Valor, from the Native American Nations of the USA, for ”Valorous Service to a Great Nation.” Only 30 of these medals have been awarded. The four-color ribbons attached to the medal symbolized the four ethnic races in this country — red for the native Americans, white for Caucasian, black for those from Africa and yellow for those from Asian countries. The group was honored by the performance of Ojibwa natives Bill Buchholtz, a wooden flute player, and Melanie Minafore, a jingle dancer with 365 jingles on her regalia.

Where it all began

“In 1929, we four Sisulak brothers, Michael, Frank, Steve and Jim, excelled in track and field competitions, Senior Department of the Chicago Sears YMCA (college age),” Frank said.
Frank, the second oldest, was proclaimed the No. 1 Athlete in Chicago from 1929 to 1930.
The World War II years found Frank at war chasing Rommel in Africa in the U. S. Army Hospital Corps.

“The wounded were being sent to us in Africa, and we had to break camp and move the hospital to keep up with the action, taking the casualties with us until they could be airlifted to other hospitals or home,” he said.

Frank served four years before being discharged in November 1945.

On Dec. 1, 1945, Frank married Amy Heltzel on the Heltzel farm in Akron, Ind. Amy Sisulak is remembered as a beloved second-grade teacher at Hollywood, Ames, Central and Blythe Park schools in Riverside.

If Frank had any vices, they were minor ones, as he is a happy and healthy centenarian. He enjoys “playing the slots.” Both of his sons, Randy and Tom, gave him a slot machine, which he now can play to his heart’s content. One is an antique from Randy, the other is an up-to-the-minute Japanese model with lights and chimes that announce a jackpot.

I join in wishing Frank many more happy birthdays.