Frank Waznis

RUMFORD -- Frank Waznis, 96, died peacefully on October 24, 2012 at Rumford Community Home.

Frank was born in Lewiston on March 1, 1916, to Frank Sr. and Antonia, both immigrants from Lithuania. In 1920, they moved to the Red Hill section of Rumford Center, where the family was raised.

In 1950, Frank, Jr. married his wife Teresa Knauer, had four children, and resided in Rumford the rest of his days.

Frank was a career employee at the Rumford Paper Mill and retired in 1980. He was a hard worker and well respected by his fellow employees and supervisors. Frank loved home cooked meals and, as a member of the NRA, enjoyed hunting, fishing, gun collecting, and reloading his own ammunition.

In his early years, Frank had a pilot’s license and owned a single prop plane. He also played the harmonica, and was known for his sense of humor and his love of baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox, which he loved to watch on TV during the long summer days.

Frank leaves a daughter, Melissa Blaisdell of Lewiston, and son, Peter Waznis of Hamden, CT, along with five stepchildren, Faylene Austin and Dorothea Cayer, both of Rumford, Gerald Locke of Saco, George Locke of Mastic, NY, and John Locke of Chelmsford, MA, and five grandchildren.

Frank Waznis is predeceased by his wife, Teresa; son, James; and daughter, Susan Marcoux.