Frank L. Audino

Frank L. Audino Obituary

On May 11, 2024, Frank Audino, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family near and far. He lived life to the fullest for 91 years.

Frank’s Celebration of Life will begin with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Family will arrive at 6 p.m. at Country Celebrations, 5606 Hamilton Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51108, on Monday, May 20. A celebration of Frank’s amazing life will follow the Rosary. 

The Mass of Christian Burial for Frank is Tuesday, May 21, 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Roger Linnan officiating at Holy Cross St. Michael Church. The Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery with a luncheon following at the parish hall. 

On January 27, 1933, Francesco Leonardo Audino, was born to Italian immigrants, Dominic, and Mary (Prochello) Audino, in Ravenna, OH. He was the youngest of five children. His father died when he was one month old and his mother moved them to Sioux City, IA to be closer to family.

He was baptized and raised Catholic. As a young boy, nuns told him Francesco wasn’t a Catholic name, so they changed his name to Francis. He went by Francis during his school years, some even knew him as “BoBo.” He attended St. Boniface Elementary School, and Trinity High School but transferred his senior year to the newly opened Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in 1949. He was an athlete and loved playing football, tennis, and golf, he was proud of his time in glee club. He was a loyal friend to many. He had a great sense of humor and always loved a good joke, even if it was inappropriate. Some of his longest friendships were those he made in school. He graduated in 1950 and was “the” first graduate of Heelan High.

After graduating from high school, Frank started his construction career as a union brick layer. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in December of 1954 and was stationed in Germany until November of 1956. After the Army, he joined his brother Joe in the construction business. And went on to open his own business in 1984. All his children, at one point in their lives worked in the family business but his sons Michael and David followed in his footsteps, making careers for themselves in the construction industry.   He employed most of his brothers-in-law at one time or another while they were growing up. Some will tell you it was the hardest job they ever had! Another one once said they tried to quit by not showing up for work, so Frank drove to the Redmond household and hauled him out of bed and said, “You can quit at 5 o’clock!”  Frank was in the construction business for nearly 60 years and retired in 2016. Some of his fondest projects were River Heights Apartments which he built and owned. Numerous projects for Blessed Sacrament church, Newman Flannigan Center at Briar Cliff University, which included one of the longest, wide flange beams in Sioux City, multiple projects on the campus of Western Iowa Tech and the Welcome Center at the Carmelite Monastery.

Frank married Mary Ann Redmond on February 15, 1958. Together they created a beautiful family and raised seven children. They worked hard to provide a foundation of important values for their children. The primary focus was faith, selflessness, and most importantly, love.

Married a little more than 66 years, they enjoyed dancing, golfing, traveling, playing cards, hosting good parties, laughing, and loving. Nothing was more important to Frank than his famiglia, it was his greatest success. He loved the Redmond family and considered himself the leader of the “outlaws.” He was proud of his Italian heritage and loved sharing stories of his family’s lineage. He loved to sing, and he did it best in the shower or with his sleeves rolled up at the kitchen sink washing dishes. Italian opera was his favorite and he loved to sing it loudly. Known for his smile, chubby cheeks, and bushy brows, he had a loud, deeply powerful voice and a whistle that if you heard it, you knew to pay attention. If he had a nickname for you, you were a favorite.  His heart had room for everyone. His generosity was one of his greatest qualities. He taught his children to have a strong work ethic, hard work paid off, to give strong handshakes and look a person in the eyes but most of all he taught them to be proud of who they were and where they came from, “You’re an Audino,” he would say, “Act like it!”

Frank was a devout Catholic with a strong, unwavering faith. He spent his life supporting Catholic education. He attended daily Mass for most of his life and kept his family safe because they were always in his prayers. He volunteered at countless church events. He was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Men’s Club for many years. And there was a special place in his heart for the Carmelite nuns and their monastery.

He loved any sport his children or grandchildren played and was always their biggest fan! His favorite football teams were Heelan Crusaders, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, and the Green Bay Packers.

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to the most loving husband, nurturing father, caring & supportive grandfather, and loyal friend to many. We will miss his voice, his hugs and the twinkle in his eyes while smiling.  

Frank L. Audino was preceded in death by his parents Dominic & Mary Audino, his siblings, Gloria, Anthony, and Joseph Audino, and Mary Treinen, and his son Michael D. Audino.

He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, his children; Tony (Michelle) Audino, Lisa Audino-Davisson (Joe Davisson), Angel (Craig) Averman, David (Erin) Audino, Nicole (Jason) McDermott, and Rory (Lindsey) Audino.

Grandchildren; AJ Audino, Morgan Audino, Michael Davisson, Ian & (Maggie) Averman, Katie LaPlante, Mackenzie Audino, Danielle Audino, Tylor (Cassie) Audino, Alex Davisson (fiancée, Elise Emord), Keaton Averman (fiancée, Lauren Carlos), Riley Audino, Dominic Audino, Hayden Audino, Walker McDermott, Gia McDermott, Mila Audino and Landrie Audino

Great grandchildren; Rachael Kobes, Mia Averman, Blakely Audino, Presley Audino and many nieces and nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank’s memory can be made to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Our Lady of the Incarnation Monastery, 2901 S. Cecelia Street, Sioux City, IA  51106.