A Galesburg man with deep ties to local politics, business and education passed away last week.Franklin J. Gustine II, better known as Frank, died Friday at the age of 85.
Gustine graduated from Wataga High School in 1950 before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force the next year.
He flew 26 B29 combat missions during the three years he fought in the Korean war.
Several years later he would attend and become a Knox College alum in 1960, earning a Bachelor’s in Economics and Political Science.
Gustine spent a large part of his career in the insurance business, owning and operating Gustine Insurance before retiring in 1996.
His influence on local politics can’t be understated either.
Gustine was Chairman of the Knox County Republican Central Committee for over a decade, chair of the Knox County Finance Committee when the county nursing home was built and was District 205 Finance Committee Chair when Galesburg developed their middle schools.
Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m. this Saturday at First United Methodist Church with visitation an hour prior.
