With gratitude and deep respect, we remember our dear retired Pastor, Denise (Denny) Frank, her husband Richard (Rich) Frank, and our friend Max Hoke—three faithful members of the First Church family whose lives were shaped by service, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to caring for others, especially children and those in need.
Denny and Rich Frank were a team in every sense of the word. Together, they gave their time, energy, and hearts to ministries that met tangible needs in the West Lafayette community. Denny led the Feed the Kids Backpack Program with quiet determination, coordinating food orders through Food Finders and organizing volunteers to ensure children had meals for the weekend. Rich supported her every step of the way, managing logistics, delivering backpacks to Edgelea Elementary, and making sure the process ran smoothly and reliably.
Their care didn’t stop there. Denny also directed the Klondike Kids Club, creating a nurturing space for after-school learning, snacks, and encouragement. Rich served as her steady assistant, helping with daily operations and offering a dependable presence to the children and volunteers alike. Together, they planned field trips, hosted joyful year-end cookouts, and cultivated a community of support and love.
Rich also quietly took care of the church itself—fueling the bus for Sunday services, maintaining equipment, and organizing the mowing crew. His behind-the-scenes work reflected the same heart of service he and Denny brought to everything they did.
Outside of their ministry work, Denny and Rich were devoted parents and grandparents. They raised four children and cherished the joys of being grandparents to seven. Their family life was marked by the same spirit of care and presence that shaped their service in the church—steadfast, thoughtful, and rooted in love.
Like Denny and Rich, Max Hoke lived a life anchored in compassion and community service. A lifelong educator, Max taught speech and English, coached speech teams, and served as a principal and school administrator across central Indiana. He inspired both students and colleagues with his passion for learning and his gift for communication. Even after retirement, he continued to share his knowledge as an adjunct instructor and found joy working at Barnes & Noble, helping others discover the same love of reading that had shaped his own life.
At First Church, Max was a member of the Klondike Kids Club Board helping Pastor Denny with educational guidance for the program. He also devoted himself to the backpack food program, working quietly behind the scenes to help ensure that local children had what they needed to thrive. His commitment reflected his deeply held belief in education, equity, and the importance of small acts of kindness.
Beyond his professional life, Max was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He and his wife Diana explored the world together, always finding a new bookstore to visit. He delighted in the company of his grandsons, Alex and James, and created a home filled with humor, curiosity, and care.
Though we mourn their absence, we celebrate the lives of Denny, Rich, and Max—three souls whose humble service and open-hearted love enriched our church and community. Their legacy continues in the backpacks packed, the children supported, the books shared, and the countless lives they touched with kindness and grace. We give thanks for them and the light they brought into the world.
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