Samuel Donald Frank

Samuel Donald Frank, 59 of Unionville, Missouri, passed away from a brief battle with cancer at the Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 18th, 2021.

Sam was born to Carlo and Shirley (Shuey) Frank in Centerville, Iowa, on December 25, 1961. Sam was raised in Putnam County and furthered his education at Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville where he received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master’s Degree in History. In 1989, Sam earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma. Sam opened a law office in Putnam County practicing for 20 years until he won the election for Associate Judge of Putnam County in 2010. On June 12, 1998, Sam was united in marriage to Mary Helmken in Las Vegas.

Sam was an avid sports fan. He loved to watch any type of sport but favored the Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas City Chiefs games. He enjoyed personally participating in both the games of golf and tennis. He was always ready for the adventure of travel and never knew a stranger. Sam treated people equally and fairly. He wanted all people to be made to feel important. Sam loved his family and considered his courthouse colleagues to be family also.

Sam is survived by his wife, Mary, of the home; sisters-in-law, Rhonda Womboldt and husband Johnny of Unionville, Missouri, and Becky Swearengen and husband Steve of Milan, Missouri; mother-in-law, Laura Dixon of Centerville, Iowa; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, LaRae Allman and a father-in-law, Charles Helmken.

Funeral services for Sam Frank will be at Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home at 10:30 am on Thursday, December 23, 2021.  Visitation will be at the funeral home from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.  Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery.

Memorials should be made payable to the Putnam County Ministerial Alliance and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.