Obituary of Francis Edward Nolan

Francis (“Frank”) Edward Nolan, 91, of Morristown, NJ passed away peacefully on June 27, 2024. Frank was born to Michael Edward Nolan and Julia Frances (Turner) Nolan on December 20, 1932 in Odell, Illinois and was one of six children. He graduated from Streator High School in Streator, Illinois in 1950 and earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Frank was a proud member of the U.S. Air Force and a Korean War veteran, serving as an air traffic and approach controller from January 1952-January 1956. After graduation and his military service, he worked as an electrical engineer for Bell Labs and AT&T for over 40 years.  Frank was an electrical and computer whiz who also enjoyed country music (especially Emmylou Harris), hunting for antiques, perusing old books, completing the newspaper crossword, eating clam chowder on the Cape and savoring a good cup of coffee.  Above all, though, Frank was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose life centered around his family.  He was married to Rita Mae Heim from 1956-1962, with whom he had his first child, Michael. Frank then married his wife, Joan (Usher) Nolan, on August 17, 1968 in South Willington, Connecticut, with whom he enjoyed 55 years of marriage and had three additional children. Frank never missed any of his kid’s sporting events and life milestones, always with his camera in tow. He had an unwavering support of his family, and his grandchildren were the absolute apple of his eye. Consistent with his love of family, Frank had a passion for genealogy and created an extensive family tree, over a thousand pages in length, and dating back sixteen generations to the early 1500s.  He also published a book about the history and life of his parents and earned his Irish citizenship to honor his ancestors. Frank helped ensure his family is and will always be connected past, present, and future. His memory will be forever held in the hearts of his surviving family: his wife, Joan; his children, Michael, Christopher, Rianne (Brian), and Courtney (John); and his six grandchildren, Dylan Rocca, Franklin Rocca, Grayce Robertson, Thane Robertson, David Nolan, and Alex Nolan. 

A service to celebrate Frank’s life will be held on Friday, July 12 at 11 am at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Morristown, New Jersey, with a rosary preceding the service. A lunch reception will be held after the memorial at The Madison Hotel, 1 Convent Rd, Morristown, NJ.  

In lieu of flowers, the Nolan family kindly requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Frank’s honor.  

Our precious husband, father, and grandfather, Francis, we entrust to God Who created you.  May Mary and your Mom, Dad, brother Billy, sisters Rosemary, Geraldine, Dorothy, and Patricia, and your other loved ones in Heaven come to meet you as you go forth into your new life.  May Christ, the Good Shepherd, give you a place within His flock.  Amen.

Arrangements are under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison, NJ.