Francisco Jimenez

Dear Mary & family - So very sorry to hear of Frank’s passing. My sincerest sympathies to you. He was a great guy to work with (CH&E) and become good friends with. No one worked harder or had a better attitude than he did. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you , especially at this time of year when family is so important.

Thank you for being a part of my life. I will miss your smile and generous hugs. Love, your Goddaughter Teri

Frank, it's hard to believe you're not here anymore, but you are not gone. Your legacy lives on in your children and grandchildren. You and Mary did one heck of a job raising these fine human beings that make this world a better place. You will be missed Frank and I will remember if I can't find it at Farm and Fleet I don't need it! With Deepest Sympathy to Mary and the entire family. Ursula

1/24/2020 Hello, My name is Enrique Cortez, former boyfriend of Elaine Jimenez, and still friend of Francisco and Mary Jimenez. Elaine Jimenez and I dated from 2001 – 2016 and along the way I became very close to her mom, dad, daughter, brother, brother in law, sister, sister in law, and nephews. Her nephews were like my own nephews. I remained friends with and in contact with Francisco and Mary Jimenez after we broke up in 2016. This letter is my way to pay honor and Thank Francisco Jimenez for always treating me so good. I felt like a son when I was with him and I imagined and hoped that my dad would be like him if he were still alive. F is for family which was his # 1 priority. Nothing came before his family and there is nothing he wouldn’t do for his family. I am sure he would be fine if I said that I am lucky because he treated like me like family. I have many stories I can tell about our first and last conversations. They were centered around family. R is for always ready to help. He would drop everything and help. Whenever anyone needed anything if they asked him, he would be there for them. A is for active. I have known him before and after he retired. I think it would be fair to say that he was more active after he retired. I think that is why he got a cell phone because it was hard to catch him at home. He showed me his last project that he built in his backyard last time I was there. I got tired hearing his story about that project because it was hard to get lumber because of Covid. He was very determined once he set his mind to the project to search out the lumber. He had several projects that he was planning on doing. I asked him if he ever rests and he just laughed. N is for no nonsense. If you asked his opinion, he would gladly tell you. You always knew where he stood. In some small ways we are alike: when someone asked him something, I would worry that they had no idea what they were in for; that he would always tell the truth. Like it or not. C is for caring. Best example is the way he looked at Mary. I remember I was visiting I think Luis, his younger brother, at the hospital and I walked in and saw Francisco and Mary and he was just looking at her and holding her hand. They asked me what was wrong. I just told them that I like the way he just looks at Mary. I asked Mary if she liked it and she smiled and said “yes”. You could not see one without the other. I have many more examples and stories about how caring he was to his children and grandchildren. Again, he loved his family. I is for ingenious. If you see the things that he built with his own hands, you would be amazed. 3 that come to mind is the cover that he built for his swing in the backyard, garden boxes that he built for Elaine Jimenez, and the game room, that I will call it, that he built on his property in Friendship, Wisconsin. If you want to know about more projects that they built then ask his brother Luis. He gladly was there to help him with any project, he adored his little brother, Luis; again family. S is for silent. Yes you heard me right, he was a quiet to himself kind of man. He would talk to anyone anytime but he would not go out of his way to talk to someone. I knew Elaine Jimenez almost 2 years before we had our first talk. It was Thanksgiving 2002. I think we talked for almost 2 hours. The main topic of conversation was family, and second topic was his tool room. He loved his tools. We haven’t stopped talking since. Last time being August 2020. I spoke to him and Mary. I have a funny story about that also. C is for creative. Just like I mentioned above, the ideas he came up with and things he built just surprised me. O is for on time. I can’t think of 1 time that he wasn’t on time. He and Mary usually arrived early which made it difficult if we wanted to surprise them like for Fireside Theater. Another story and again about family. J is for John Wayne and Johnny Cash. I have never known anyone that liked Johnny Cash and John Wayne as much as he did. It made for an easy gift idea. John Wayne and Johnny Cash anything always made him happy. I bought tickets for him and Mary to see Johnny Cash singer at Schauer Arts Center and he was so proud based on the picture that he sent me with the Johnny Cash singer. He was smiling from ear to ear. I is for imaginative. Look at some of the things that he built or solutions to problems that arose, and you will see what I mean by imaginative. A good example was when I made his large family tree banner that he uses at Family reunions. I told him to use duct tape to hold it up. He told me to use grommets. Of course, he went to his basement and game back with grommets which worked better then duct tape. His basement and his brain have solutions for many problems. It is like the magic basement. If you find a problem, he will think of a solution. His many things that he built are proof that he is imaginituve. M is for music lover. He loved music. Mexican music, I believe Rancheras, was his favorite. Johnny Cash might be a close 2nd. And because he loved music that might be part of the reason why he and Mary liked Fireside Theatre. E is for entertaining. He could talk for hours about many things. Again, pattern forming here. He loved to talk about his family which he adored. N is for nice guy to have on your side. I have a lawn mower that is older than me and it worked fine. He surprised me and bought me a lawn mower even though I told him no thank you and that mine was fine. Luckily my 60-year-old lawn mower died the following year. Thank you, Francisco. E is for ever changing. Like I said above, I have only known him for almost 20 years. The first time we spoke in November 2002 he told me that when he found out he was going to be a grandfather again with his grandson Jeffrey he made a commitment to himself to be a better grandfather, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, etc… I never knew the man he was prior to that. I only knew the man that he chose to become after his grandson Jeffrey was born. In the time I have known him he has changed so much for the better and the main beneficiaries of his change was his family. Z is for zest for life. I have never seen him or talked to him when he wasn’t happy for life. I am sure many of you have seen him throughout the years and nothing made him happier than just going and going and enjoying every day. An example of his zest for life is that he would visit his granddaughter Jennifer in Arizona and stay for a month. He and Mary would just take in the sites while he was visiting with his daughter jennifer which he adored. I am sure Jennifer was aware that he adored her. I asked him how long it would take him to get there and get back and his response was that he didn’t know. They would stop and enjoy the drive to and from Arizona. He also loved going to and being a part of the Annual family reunion. Crazy side story. When the family was at my house, for a surprise party for Elaine Jimenez is my guess, they saw a picture of my mom and dad and Luis, his younger brother, asked who that was and I told him that was my mom and dad. Both Francisco and Luis knew my dad when they used to go to his bar, Cortez Place, on National Ave., in the 70’s. What a small world.

My heart and prayers go out to Mary, Elaine, and the entire Jimenez family. I know this is a tough time for you. Fortunately he touched many lives including and especially mine. I have so many stories to share about him. The main theme of most of the stories i have about him center around family. I am fortunate that the last time I saw him was in August 2020 with his wife Mary. We had a great fun conversation. That is a great positive last memory and that is how I want to remember him. He is how i imagined and hoped my father would be if he were alive. Thank you for treating me like Family. You will be missed but not forgotten. I am here to help in any way if needed. That is the least i can do for making me feel important and special. Thank you Jimenez family for welcoming me with open arms throughout the years.

My ❤ hurts so badly right now. I can't believe COVID has taken you away from us. I know you are watching over your family and I can feel your comfort but it still hurts so much. I love you Dad and I promise to watch over Mom and continue legacy.

Elaine, Jennifer & Family, So very sorry to hear about your loved Dad, Grandpa. Hold your memories close to your heart. Your loved one will forever be with each of you. SIncere Sympathy

My heartfelt condolences to the Jimenez family during this solemn time. I grew up with his son, Jeff, and there were many Autumn days I'd knock on their back door only to be told, "Jeff's hunting with his dad." They spent a lot of time together. Often I'd see them fixing the truck, doing lawn work or creating some project together when I came to call. We'd meet up later cause Jeff wanted to help his dad. Mr. Jimenez always had a gentle smile and patient demeanor whenever I was around him. He genuinely loved listening to people and conversing with them. May his family, friends and loved ones find peace and contentment during this time of transition.

Thoughts and prayers sent up for my family during this difficult time Love you guys!

Please accept my sincere sympathy regarding your father. Special thoughts and prayers. Linda

My prayers go out to everyone. May he Rest In Peace.

We will miss you very much Tio. Our prayers and love to the rest of the family. Wish we could be there for all of you. Love Joe & Elizabeth

May Frank’s legacy of family provide comfort during these trying times. I was lucky enough to have spent time with “Frankemary” as a child and young adult. Too many happy memories to include here. I was foolish to let opportunities to meet pass when middle age came. Too busy with life and trying to be. Upon recent reflection, Frank was right that trusted family and friends are true wealth. And he was such a rich man. ❤️❤️❤️

Mary, Elaine, Jeff and Jacki So sorry to hear of this loss to your family. He was a great man to his family. It showed that his family was everything to him. He surely treasured you all. It could be seen in his eyes. Carry him in your heart always, and know he is watching over you. I respected him as a father figure when we were growing up. Right, Elaine? Lots of good memories. Anyway, love and hugs to all of you.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.