Frank Wilfred Podpechan

Frank W. Podpechan, passed away on January 21, 2025 at the age of 97.

Known as “Wilfred” to his family and “Frank” to his friends, he was born on December 26, 1927, in Yale, Crawford County, Kansas, into a family of coal miners. His parents, Frank J. Podpechan and Mary E (Demshar) Podpechan moved in 1929 to a home at Hickory Coal Company at 26th and Harvard in Tulsa, then to Claremore in 1937 where his father was superintendent of Rogers County Coal Mine. He attended Claremore High School graduating in 1945. He went on to study geology at the University of Tulsa and Oklahoma A & M College and was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. 

In 1948, while still in college, he joined the Recon Unit of the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard. After graduation from Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) in 1950, he married Jane Ann McMillin and was immediately activated into the United States Army. In 1951 he went overseas and served his country in the Korean War. Upon returning in 1952, he accepted a job with Stanolind Oil & Gas Company and left Claremore with Jane and baby daughter Mary Fran and began a lifelong successful career in the oil & gas business, later following his father and grandfather into the coal business. After his job with Stanolind in Fort Worth, Texas, he went independent, forming Helbing & Podpechan in New Mexico, then joined Flag-Redfern in Midland, Texas, after which he partnered with T Boone Pickens at Mesa Petroleum in Canada. He eventually moved back to Claremore and ventured into several new businesses, among them the second Hickory Coal Company, Skye Resources, Petroleum Reserve Corp and Claremont Corporation. The four of his children have many differing memories growing up but one consistent memory is stopping at many oil and gas wells on any trip we took and the drill cores and hundreds of sample bags that littered our car. His family and business legacy continues with his grandchildren at the helm of Claremont Corporation and Muirfield Resources LLC in Tulsa.

 Frank earned his pilot’s license and actively flew for business and pleasure. In 1987, Frank married Roxey Nelson and they enjoyed several years of living in Bonita Springs, Florida playing golf, attending reunions with his many 45th Infantry friends and making many dear friends in Ascot at Pelican Landing.

Frank was active with the Indian Nations Council of Boy Scouts, Rogers State College, and in 2023 was honored as part of “Heroes of the Hill” in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Foundation in support of the mission of Rogers State University in Claremore.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank J and Mary Podpechan; wife Roxey Podpechan, and grandson, Joshua Gentry.

He is survived by his sister, Rosemary Dost, Lakeview, AR, his brother, John J Podpechan, Claremore, Jane Podpechan, mother of his four children: Mary Fitzgerald (Julio Melendez), Joe Podpechan, Luanne Lyman (Lorn) and Jan Grisham (Mike). Grandchildren: Trey Karlovich (Kelly), Nicholas Karlovich (Corrie), Geoffrey R Hale (Megan) Tulsa, Sarah Kittinger (Luke), Santa Fe, NM, William Podpechan (Rose) Snohomish, WA, Ben Herrmann (Sabrina) Oklahoma City, and Alex Herrmann, Tulsa, Great grandchildren Quade and Macy Karlovich, Sam and Zack Karlovich, Willa and Duke Hale, Chloe and Olivia Herrmann. Other family members include Todd Nelson (Lou Ann), Ranee Taylor, and Tanna Aaron (Bobby), along with several step-grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the many friends and caregivers during the past few years, namely Kay Whitecotton, Shaina Swetman, Brittani Katine, Maureen Bonel, Ana Vallejo, Kari Dipaolo, and Sara Jacomine; the staff at TruHeart Hospice, the staff at Incare and the staff and caregivers in Heather Hall at Covenant Living at Inverness in Tulsa.

Private services for Frank will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Rogers State University; Scouting America, Indian Nations Council; Family Safety Center; Tulsa Girls Home; or a charity of your choice.