Deacon Frank: Tribute to a faithful servant

Click on the headline to see an album of photos from retirement party.

He has guided more than 300 on their journey to become full members of the Catholic Church. He has officiated at hundreds of baptisms, funerals and weddings. He has baptized all of his grandchildren and officiated at his daughter’s wedding. He has served at Masses and sacramental duties in three parishes as a deacon for more than 27 years.

Deacon Frank Lonteen, faithful servant at St. Paul Parish, received permission from Bishop Richard Lennon on September 11, 2009 to retire from active Diaconate Ministry while retaining faculties to continue to minister when called upon.

There will be a retirement celebration for Deacon Lonteen after all Masses this weekend in the Parish Activity Center -- but nobody will be saying “Goodbye.:”

One of several events that will keep him involved is another celebration at the Easter Vigil when three of the persons he guided in marriage preparation will become full members of the Catholic Church.

Until last year, Deacon Lonteen guided future Catholics in a class each year in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). With anywhere from two to 20 students a year, you can assume that Frank has taught the faith to more than 300 during his tenure. He also has counseled many preparing for marriage.

Add to that the countless baptisms, weddings funerals and other sacramental duties and you can begin to assess the value of one minister’s service to the Church. He is known by every altar server who has passed through the ranks at St. Paul.

“I was assigned to St. Paul Parish by Bishop Anthony Pilla on December 1, 1986, and have enjoyed serving the people of this parish for 23 years under the pastorate of Father John Jenkins and Father Ralph Thomas,.” Deacon Frank said.

‘I will be officially retired from active Diaconate Service, However, as I told Father Ralph, I am only a telephone call away and will be available for weddings, funerals and baptisms as my schedule allows. I will also be available for special celebrations.”

Mr. Francis R. Lonteen was ordained June 5, 1982 by Bishop Anthony Pilla He celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination with a Mass on June 10, 2007 at St. Paul. Less than 30 of the active deacons in the Cleveland Diocese have been serving longer than him.

Deacon Frank was born on October 27, 1937 in Peoria, IL, the second of five children of
Ann and Abe Lonteen. His younger brother, Michael, was a Franciscan in Cincinnati. The family moved o Albion, MI, when Frank was 14. After a tour width the Navy, Frank came to Akron and attended the Akron Art Institute for two and one half years.

He is both a gifted artist and has also been a chef and a school teacher.

Franks father was in the restaurant business and Frank was a chef for about 25 years. He met his wife, Jean, who was working in a local restaurant and they were married at St. Joseph Church in Cuyahoga Falls.

In 1970, Frank became a student at the University of Akron and received his bachelor’s degree in education in 1974. He taught language arts and reading in Cuyaoga Falls schools.

Frank’s paintings can be found in the church, rectory and school. A painting of Christ is in the hallway between the sacsristry and church and one of Mother Teresa is in the rectory.

Frank and Jean had four children:

Michael is vice president for research and development for Griffith Laboratories, a global manufacturer of food products in Chicago. Michael and wife Vicki have two children, Dana and Christopher.

Bill, died in a traffic accident in 2002. He had a son, Jason who is in the Army in Iraq.

Dan, who has a degree in psychology and philosophy from Borromeo College and a master’s from St. Mary’s, teaches theology and ethics at Cardinal Gibbons Catholic High School in Fort Lauderdale.

Sheryl (Mrs. Brian Jones) is a teacher’s aide at SS Philip and James Elementary School in Canal Fulton. She and Brian have two sons, Kyle and Shawn.

The Lonteens lived on Herberich Avenue and were members of St. John’s Parish where Frank served as a deacon for four years until 1986 when he was assigned to St. Paul. In 1990 he received a secondary assignment to Queen of Heaven in Green and served both parishes until 2002.

The Lonteens now live in Canal Fulton in order to be near their grandchildren..