Francis B. Casaday 1942-2013

CASADAY, RIFFLE, WHITEWATER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/12/2013 at 09:54:59

Sioux City Journal
5 February 2013

SIOUX CITY | Francis B. Casaday, 70, of Sioux City passed away Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at a local hospital after a brief illness.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, with the Rev. Chace Gordon officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation, with the family present, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Frank was born in Sioux City on March 30, 1942, to Walter B. and Geraldine R. (Riffle) Casaday. He attended Sioux City public schools.

Frank served in the U.S. Navy for two years, during peacetime in San Diego, Calif. He was honorably discharged in 1962. He returned to Sioux City and worked at Sioux Tools. Shortly thereafter, he met and married his wife, Edith Whitewater.

He secured a position with Sioux City Dressed Beef. Later, Iowa Beef Processing opened its plant and he went to work there on the kill floor and later in maintenance. As an employee of IBP, he and his family had to live through a number of labor disputes when the contracts expired. The disputes were often long, violent and forced many families to endure months of trying to make weekly strike pay stretch.

As a dedicated United Food and Commercial Workers Local 222 union member, he went to work for the UFCW as a union representative. Frank aspired to dedicate his life to helping workers of organized labor receive better working conditions, fair wages, while ensuring their personal safety, and giving ordinary workers like himself "a voice". He was elected president of UFCW Local 222 in 1989 and under his calm and firm leadership, his ability to reason and negotiate meaningful contracts with IBP, he was able to bring an end to the notorious violent labor disputes. He served as president for 12 years.

He was recognized by the United Way Board of Directors for 11 years of service. He was inducted into the Northwest Iowa Labor Council Hall of Fame in 2001 as well as the Nebraska State AFL-CIO Hall of Fame in 2005. Frank worked tirelessly to help workers, throughout Iowa and Nebraska, with unjust actions, firings and grievances. After 35 years of service and dedication to the hopes and aspirations of organized labor, he finally decided to retire on March 25, 2001, so he could spend more time with his family.

Frank was a loving husband, devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a good, honest man with integrity and quick wit. He dedicated his life to the service of others, treating everyone with love and respect.

He also enjoyed bird watching with his wife, and as a skilled mechanic he often exercised his crafts in his garage, better known as "Grandpa's Busted Knuckle" shop, and loved to spend time with his family. He always loved to visit, share a kind word, and help people however he was able. He was a member of the Church Of All Nations and the South Bottoms Reunion Committee.

Frank is survived by his wife of 46 years, Edith; five children, Cynthia (Lee) Doan, Vivlora "Lori" Nguyen, Francis "Penny" Casaday, Rochelle Beach, and Patrick (Carrie) Casaday; 11 grandchildren, Casaday (James) Loomis, Felicia Doan, Christopher Casaday, Cherie (Josh) Loomis, Amy Doan, Duncan Nguyen, Dominic Southivong, Jadon Hoefling, Soleil Casaday, Kira Hoefling and Dorien Huls; two great-grandchildren, Aleah and Genieva Holden; siblings, Audrey Waugh of Joplin, Mo., Raymond (Charlotte) Casaday of Jackson, Neb., Linda Parker of Greeley, Colo., Don (Mary) Casaday of Sioux City, Ann (Harold) Auen of Omaha, Neb., Carl Casaday and Jim Casaday of Sioux City, Roberta Casaday of Eveleth, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Geraldine Casaday.