Colonel Dale Franklin “Frank” Vosika, died Monday, April 5, 2021, in Idaho Falls. He was born in Twin Falls, ID, and raised by his parents, Dr. Frank and Colynn Darnall Vosika in Kimberly, ID.
He attended the University of Idaho, where he graduated with a B.S. in electrical engineering and the University of Utah, where he was awarded a Master of Business Administration.
Upon graduating from the University of Idaho, he entered the United States Air Force, where he graduated from both Navigator and Electronic Warfare School. His flight assignments included B-52 Bombers, Mather Air Force Base; O-2 and O-V 10, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand; C-130, Pope AFB, North Caroline and Hurlburt Field, Florida. His later Air Force tours were devoted to technical assignments including wind tunnel testing, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tennessee and common avionics acquisition, Wright Patter AFB, Dayton Ohio. Among the numerous Air Force awards and commendations, he holds the Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Metal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Metal with 1 Silver and 8 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.
He retired from the Air Force to pursue a career in private industry including assignments at Marshall Space Center, Alabama; Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; and Edwards Air Force Base, California. He retired a second time to return to Idaho, the place he always called home.
He and his wife, Jana Smith Vosika, were married for fifty-five years. He was the loving father of three children: Michael D. (Denise) Vosika, Matthew T. (Tracy) Vosika, and Catherine C. (Todd) Dompier; and five grandchildren, Mary, Jack, and Alex Vosika and Abby and Chris Dompier.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Nancy.
He loved camping with family, delighting in trips planned each summer with all five grandchildren. He loved the game of golf, particularly the game at Pebble Beach where he got a hole-in-one on Number 7. He enjoyed duck hunting with his Labrador retriever, Annie, flying his Piper Pacer, and fly fishing the beautiful Idaho rivers.
He will be interred with his fellow patriots at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors at a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Wreaths across America” (wreathsacrossamerican.org) to ensure that patriots from the Revolutionary War to present conflicts are never forgotten.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.