Frank Jean Mortensen

Frank J. Mortensen, 89, of Chester, Virginia, formerly of Duluth, passed away on Sunday July 2, 2017, in his home. Frank was born on April 4, 1928, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Earl and Agnes (Welch) Mortensen. He lived in Holland, Michigan until the age of 17 and graduated from Wauwatosa High School. Later he was drafted into the Korean War and served in Alaska. In 1949, he went to culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America in New York for two years. In 1951, he married Barbara Sieber from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating from Culinary school, he worked and taught cooking in the Milwaukee area and Central Minnesota before moving to Duluth. Frank owned and operated Gourmet Catering and was a popular teacher at Duluth Area Vocational Technical Institute. He was a member of the Euclid Lodge #198, AAD Shrine Temple, and involved with the Scottish Rite Speech Clinic. Frank continued working as professional chef until 2016, and never stopped helping people as a volunteer. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Barbara; son, David; grandson, Tommy; and great-granddaughter, Alexis. He is survived by his two daughters, Cheryl (Robert) Paul of Rush City, MN and Kathleen (Adrian) Rick of Chester, Virginia; nine grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; brother, Kenneth Mortensen of Luther, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.

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