Frank V. Stysh

Boonville - Frank V. Stysh, 94, a lifelong resident of Moose River Road and longtime dairy farmer, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, at Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where he had resided since August of this year. Active in many civic affairs in Boonville, Mr. Stysh also was the founder of the popular Stysh¿s Brown Barn Campground and reception facility, located on his former dairy farm property. A native of LaTrobe, PA, he was born on March 14, 1915, a son of John and Cecelia Leniek Stysh. His family moved to the Moose River Road when Frank was two and settled on what would become the Stysh Family Dairy Farm. He graduated from Boonville High School and thereafter was employed on his parent¿s farm. On August 30, 1941, Frank was united in marriage with Emily Pawlicki at St. Mary¿s Church of West Leyden. The couple made their home on the Moose River Road. In the 1950¿s Frank became owner of the farm. In addition to the operation of his farm, he operated a milk pick-up route in the Boonville area. Active in agricultural associations, he was a member of the Farm Bureau, the Oneida County Cooperative Extension, and for many years he was a committee man for G.L.F. and Agway, both in Boonville. He was a member of St. Joseph¿s Church, Boonville, and Boonville Council Knights of Columbus. Frank was also appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese to serve as church trustee. Along with his love of farming, Frank had a life interest and association with the operation of the Boonville-Oneida County Fair. In 1954 he became a member of the fair board of directors; during his long tenure of activity on the fair board he served as vice president, member of the executive board, longtime member of the premium committee, and from 1963 until the present time he was chairman of the horse pull competition, in recent years being assisted by his son, Dan. In the early 1960¿s Mr. Stysh served on the committee that negotiated with the Tupper Lake Woodsmen¿s Field Days, resulting in the creation of the Boonville Woodsmen¿s Field Days, later to become the New York State Woodsmen¿s Field Day¿s. This event grew under his leadership to become one of the largest lumbering and outdoor shows in the United States. During the 1950¿s and 1960¿s Mr. Stysh served as an elected member of the Boonville Central School Board. In the 1970¿s he was elected Town Supervisor. He also served as Chairman of the Oneida County Democratic Committee. Frank sold his large dairy herd in 1976 and four years later founded Stysh¿s Brown Barn Campgrounds, one of the largest of its kind in New York. Dan, his son, became chief operator of the campground in later years. He is survived by three daughters, Susan Wood of Providence, RI, Judith Dicker and her husband, Michael, of Normal, IL, and Molly Glesmann and her husband, Eric of Steuben; a son, Daniel, of Boonville; and five grandchildren, Erica, Talia, Dan, Brian and Eli. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by a son, David, in 1954, and by a son-in-law, James Wood, in 2007. Frank was the last surviving of six siblings. His Funeral will be Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph¿s Church in Boonville, with interment to follow in St. Joseph¿s Cemetery. Calling hours at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, are Sunday 1-4 p.m. The Boonville Council Knights of Columbus will meet as a group on Sunday at the funeral home for a service. Memorial contributions may be made to the New York State Woodsmen¿s Field Days Scholarship Fund c/o Rev. Frank A. Reed Memorial Building, 122 Main Street, Boonville, NY 13309.