Frank Robert Pichler

Frank Pichler Francis R. (Frank) Pichler, age 75, a long time resident of Bartlesville, died, Monday February 18, 2013 surrounded by his family following a courageous battle with cancer. Memorial services for Frank will be held 1:00pm Friday, Feb 22 at East Cross United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chad Perceful officiating. Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory. Pallbearers will be Mark Pichler, Steve Pichler, Greg Pichler, Doug Pichler, Gary Kahler, and Lee Palmer. Visitation will be held at the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory from 7-8:30pm, Thursday, Feb 21 where the family will receive friends and guests at the funeral home. Donations may be made to Tuesday House, PO Box 2405, Bartlesville, OK 74003, Bartlesville Civitan Park, PO Box 1294, Bartlesville, OK 74005, or to East Cross United Methodist Church, 820 Madison Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006. Frank was born in Franklin, KS to Frank and Sadie Pichler. He graduated from Crawford County Community High School in Arma, Kansas in 1955. Graduated from Kansas State College at Pittsburg Kansas in 1959 with a double major of BS in Applied Mathematics and Physical Science; receiving his MS in Applied Mathematics in 1962. Frank also obtained an MBA while working at Phillips Petroleum Company. He was in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1960-1966, serving active duty for six months. He began working for Phillips Petroleum Company in 1962 as a Math Programming Area Leader where he was responsible for the development and maintenance of Linear and Non-linear Programming, and the Statistical, Forecasting, and Economic programs. In 1977 he became Operations Research Project Director of Information Services, moving into Operations Modeling and Environment Supervisor. In 1992, he was Director of Economic Modeling at the Sweeny Texas Business Unit, retiring from there in 1999. He specialized, published papers, and was lead analyst in areas pertaining to crude oil selection, motor fuel blending, fiber spinning operations, and marketing strategy computer models of Phillips Petroleum Company, as well as many other technical areas. He had a special talent for using linear programming, PC simulation techniques, and graphics to interpret economic modeling data and solutions. He was a member of National Petroleum Refiners Association, Institute for Management Sciences, Operations Research Society of America, and Association for Computing Machinery. In 1959, he married Rosalee Potocnik having Mark Robert Pichler and Steven Allen Pichler from their union. On April 22, 1972, he married Nancy Lane Kahler. Gregory Francis Pichler and Douglas Eugene Pichler were born from their union. They made their home in Bartlesville until moving to Lake Jackson Texas from 1992-1999. They returned to Bartlesville following Frank’s retirement in July 1999. Frank enjoyed many fishing trips with family and friends, hunting quail with his father-in-law Gene Kahler, traveling around the world with Nancy, and was an avid reader of History. In his younger days he enjoyed running, bowling, golf, and dancing. He especially loved spending time with his family and church friends. He enjoyed volunteering at MUTUAL Girls Club’s Tuesday House and delivering meals for Washington/Nowata County Nutrition Project. He was past member of Jaycees and Kiwanis. Currently, he is a member of Bartlesville Civitan Club serving on the communication team. He has served as President of the club and was awarded the Club Honor Key through Civitan International. He served on the board of directors of the Senior Housing Complex, Older Citizens Services of Washington/Nowata County and Bartlesville Civitan. A member of East Cross United Methodist Church, he was active in Disciples Sunday School Class, Outlet service, and served on the Trustees Committee. Frank is survived by his wife of 40 years, Nancy Pichler; four sons Mark and Kim Pichler of Farmington Hills, MI, Steve Pichler of Harlingen, Texas, Greg and Amee Pichler of Edmond Oklahoma, and Doug Pichler of Bastrop Texas; five grandchildren Patrick Pichler of Harlingen, Texas, Chris Pichler of Farmington Hills, MI, Corinne, Caleb, and Caden Pichler all of Edmond Oklahoma; one sister Pam and Gene Smith of Pleasanton Kansas, sister-in-law Paula and Lee Palmer of Edna, KS, and brother-in-law Gary and Leah Kahler of Newalla, OK, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ruth Ann Dock, and one grandson Gabriel Pichler. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. PDF Printable Version

Frank Robert Pichler

August 26, 1937 - February 18, 2013