(Photo's)

Frank passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Feb. 24, 2019. He was laid to rest on Feb. 28, 2019 in a private ceremony as he requested.

The family appreciates all the people who came to pay their respects at the cemetery.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Sue; his son, Jim; his sister, Madeline Cooper; and his parents. Frank is survived by his son, Ron Reyzlik; daughter; Sandy (Ben) Toscano ; brother, Joe Reyzlik; and grandchildren, Heidi (Brian) Green , Heath (Jennifer) Reyzlik , Joe Toscano, and Brandon Toscano.

Memorials to the Alzheimer's Association. Hopefully a cure for this terrible disease can be found.

Farewell, Frank: Friends, family remember longtime Blair businessman

Longtime Blair business owner Frank Reyzlik knew how to treat his customers. “He was a sharp businessman. That was his passion,” said Blair City Council member Jon Stewart, whose family owned and operated a grocery store.

Reyzlik began his career working for another hardware store — Coast to Coast — before joining Clarence Schreiner at Gambles in the building that is now occupied by the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce.

When Schreiner decided to retire, Reyzlik wanted to buy it. However, he was unable to obtain a loan. That's when pharmacist Wayne Anderson stepped in.

“He met with Grandpa and said I believe in what you're trying to do and I'll front the money,” Heath said.

Reyzlik took over the business in May 1967, often working seven days a week, though the store was only open six.

In 1972, Reyzlik moved his store to the corner of 17th and Washington streets. Prior to his business, the building housed Applebee's TV and Appliance Store and an International Harvester store. “I called him like one of the building blocks of the community,” Stewart said. “We're just not going to see people like that, I don't think, in the future. That personal touch.”

Despite having never worked a day in the trades, Reyzlik often knew what his customers — including electricians, journeyman plumbers and construction workers — needed.

“Frank, he knew a lot. He had a lot of stuff in there. He knew what you needed and had a lot of advice on how to fix things,” said John Henton, who retired from Henton Trenching. “If I didn't know how to fix it, he had an idea on how to do it and what to do it with.”

Bob Pounds, Reyzlik's nephew, who worked part-time at the store fixing lawnmowers and snowblowers, agreed.

“It was absolutely amazing the knowledge he had,” Pounds said. “And if he didn't know, he'd know where to find it.”

Good service was important to Reyzlik, which sometimes meant opening on Sunday or after hours.

“If they really needed something, he'd open the store and get them what they needed,” said Jan Elvers, who worked for Reyzlik for nearly 40 years. He liked doing that.”

Or, in some cases, Reyzlik just gave his customers a key.

“Sometimes we had emergencies,” Henton said. “Frank, one day, just thought maybe I needed a key to get in after hours, which turned out to be real handy sometimes.”

But he had one stipulation.

“If it's in the middle of the night, call the police station first so they don't think somebody is breaking in,” Henton said with a laugh.

Reyzlik was also a big supporter of the community, serving as a city council member for three terms from 1978 to 1990. Reyzlik beat incumbent Carl Rennerfeldt.

When Frank filed to run against me, I didn't campaign very hard at all. If they want me back in, they'll vote me in. If they don't, that's OK too. I was happy with that,” Rennerfeldt said. “(Frank) did a lot of good work with the council.”

He also served as a sounding board for many other council members even after he was done on the council, Stewart said.

Reyzlik often gave generously to the community, including the Blair Volunteer Fire Department.

In July 1999, Reyzlik donated $10,000 to the department toward the purchase of a thermal camera, new technology at the time. He told the Pilot-Tribune he learned the equipment was available and felt it was indispensable to the fire department for community safety.

When he wasn't at the store, Reyzlik enjoyed spending time with Leanna Metz, his companion of more than 25 years. The couple had known each other before Reyzlik's wife, Sue, died in 1991.

“We just fell in love,” Metz said.

The couple spent almost every Saturday night at the Blair Marina and enjoyed dinners at the Driftwood. They also traveled together to the Ace “market,” where Reyzlik would find goods for the store. It was the only time he spent away from the store.

“I will miss his smile,” Metz said. “He always gave me a precious little smile.”

In 2015, Reyzlik made the difficult decision to close his Ace Hardware store after 48 years.

“The store was his life,” Pounds said. “He enjoyed it so much he was just there all the time.”

A celebration of life, hosted by his grandchildren, Heath and Jennifer Reyzlik, and Heidi (Reyzlik) and Brian Green, and Metz, will be 5 p.m. Friday at the Blair American Legion.

Memorials may be designated to the Blair Legion.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper articles on file at the Blair Public Library.

Find a Grave Memorial #197173071