Beloved Husband and Father, Dr. Frank Edward Kucera departed this blessed earth August 7, 2021.

Frank was born on December 2, 1927, in Pinconning, Michigan, the 11 ^th of 12 children born to Anna Malis Kucera and Joseph Kucera. As the son of a large farming family, he excelled in high school and graduated early at age 16.  He was a natural leader and was President of his junior high school class and Vice President in his senior year.  After graduation in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army.

Frank was assigned to the 548 Ordinance Detachment in Nome, Alaska and achieved the rank of Sergeant.  He was given an honorable discharge in 1948 to attend college.  His older brother John, a dentist, encouraged Frank to pursue an education in medicine and Frank enrolled in Bay City Jr. College. He transferred to University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1949.  Although he started in dentistry, he quickly realized he wanted to be a surgeon.  He graduated in 1955 with a degree as Doctor of Medicine then trained in surgery until July of 1960 at the same university.

He met his young bride in 1954 at University of Michigan, registered nurse Jane Hickman. They married in 1955. With four small children, Kathryn, Carolyn, and twins Matthew and Daniel, they moved to Boynton Beach, Florida in August of 1960.  Frank joined the surgical staff of the new 70-bed hospital, Bethesda Memorial. He opened a private medical practice in Delray Beach.  They settled into their new home in the Lake Ida neighborhood of Delray Beach and Jan and Julia were born soon after.

Frank's medical practice thrived, and he dedicated much of his time serving his community, raising 6 children and supporting the expanding hospital.  In addition, the Kucera Family joined St. Vincent Ferrer Parish where all the children began their schooling.

Recognizing a growing issue in the community, he galvanized a few close friends and in 1968 Frank, Bill Plum, (a pharmacist) and Major Bill Cochrane, (a policeman), co-founded the South County Drug Abuse Foundation.  They wanted to make a difference; they didn't realize their efforts would change lives for now more than half a century.  The organization, still in existence, is known today as Drug Abuse Foundation of Palm Beach County.

He served as president of Delray Beach Kiwanis Club, Delray Dunes Country Club and was the volunteer team physician for Seacrest (Atlantic) Community High School for 25 years.

Frank served on dozens of boards and committees and held many appointments.  He was a member of the American Medical Association (AMA), Florida Medical Association, Florida Association of General Surgeons, Frederick A. Coller Surgical Society, Southeastern Surgical Congress and Victor Vaughn Medical Historical Society.  He also served as Chairman of the Committee on Legislation for the Florida Medical Association.

He studied under and learned the techniques of pioneer vascular surgeons Drs. DeBakey and Cooley in Texas and traveled to The Shouldice Hernia Clinic outside of Toronto to learn about more advanced procedures.

Dr. Kucera served as President of Palm Beach County Medical Society, Chief of Surgery at Bethesda Memorial Hospital, Chair of Annual Hospital Ball, and Physician's Association Chairman.  He developed numerous surgical techniques still in practice today, notably the double layer mesh repair of hernias.  Frank retired from medicine in 1998 and continued to serve his profession by writing and publishing articles and serving as a medical expert witness and advisor to the legal community.

He met and married Lynne Heeg in October of 1981. They shared a very active and full social life together in Delray Dunes for 40 years.  Lynne and Frank were avid golfers, enjoyed many friends, and were a joy to watch on the dance floor.  Frank adored his "Dunes Family", loved to tell jokes, and was so proud to volunteer as a poll worker at the clubhouse voting station.

Frank is survived by loving wife Lynne and her son Warren Heeg (Kellie) of Boynton Beach, Florida, Kate Kenny of Cincinnati, Ohio, Carolyn Young of Boynton Beach, Florida, Matthew Kucera (Sue Ann) of Merritt Island, Florida, Daniel Kucera of Boynton Beach, Florida, Jan Kucera of Boynton Beach, Florida, Julia Collier (Charlie) of Fairfax, Virginia, and he is sadly predeceased by Kimberly Heeg in 1986 and 10 of his siblings.  He has 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 20, 2021, 10:30AM at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach, FL.  To livestream the funeral Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, please click here . Entombment service will follow at the Boynton Beach Mausoleum.

The family appreciates any donations made in his memory to Bethesda Hospital Foundation. www.bethesdahospitalfoundation.org (Donate Now, Tribute Gift, In Memory of Dr. Frank Kucera). 2815 S. Seacrest Blvd.  Boynton Beach, FL 33435.  561-737-7733 ext 84445

Or

St. Vincent Ferrer School, www.stvfschool.org (Support SVF, In Memory of Dr. Frank Kucera) 840 George Bush Blvd.  Delray Beach, FL 33483.