Francis Ignatius Bien

Francis "Frank" Ignatius Bien, 87, of Hemet, California passed away on Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at Americare in Torrance, California. He was born Saturday, September 10, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois and was the son of the late Valentine and Anna "Starzec" Bien.

Frank was very active in the Catholic Church. He was a member of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Hemet. He volunteered for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Tax-Aide program for over 25 years (in both Los Angeles and Riverside Counties).

A retired engineer, Frank worked at TRW on NASA's Viking Program which sent two space probes to Mars as well as the Space Shuttle Program. Using his engineering background as well as carpentry skills he learned from his father, he was able to fix a lot of things. He did not like to buy a new one when he could fix the old one. He enjoyed working in his yard and taking care of his fruit trees. Frank, who was a taxi cab driver in his younger years, also enjoyed driving his motorhome and visiting campgrounds with jacuzzi's.

His family describes him as a caring and loving person. He was humble, generous, patient and intelligent. Surviving are daughters Anna Bien-Gill, Colette Schlinkmann, Cheryl Bien and sons Charles Bien (Robin), John Bien, and Francis Bien (Lorraine) as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be at 10:00 AM on Friday October 17th at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church located at 780 S. State Street Hemet, California 92543. Inurnment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery on October 18th, 1:30pm in Culver City, CA.