Frank Transue

Transue, Frank M. Frank M. Transue, PE, SE, passed away August 27th at St. Joseph Hospital, Elgin, following a brief illness. Frank was born in Grand Rapids, MI, and was raised and educated in Lowell, Michigan. He earned a BS and MS in Civil Structural Engineering from the University of Michigan and a degree in business from Harvard University, OPM class of 1990. Frank was an Elgin resident of nearly fifty years, moving here from Kalamazoo, MI, in 1972. He established and managed the office of Carl Walker and Associates, later renamed, Walker Parking and Restoration Engineers until his retirement as CEO in 2008 and as Chairman of the Board in 2017. Frank was a member of the ASCE, The Consulting Engineers Council, The Precast Concrete Institute, and a distinguished governor of the Urban Land Institute. Transue was considered a national expert in parking design. Those in the precast industry considered Frank a pioneer of many concrete innovations in the parking industry. According to John Nanna, retired president of a Midwest precast manufacturer, "Transue and his company developed innovative thinking that reduced cost and brought value to many concrete designs under his leadership." John Bushman, CEO and President of Walker Consultants states, "Under Frank's leadership Walker became the largest firm in the world specializing in the planning and design of parking facilities. He opened our international operations in Poland, England, and the UAE." In 2008, Frank was honored with a merit award from the University of Michigan, citing his responsibility for many of the largest parking structures in the United States including the 10,000-space parking structure in Anaheim California, at Disneyland. He was instrumental in the development of the SeaTac Airport, a 16,000-space parking facility in Seattle, WA. He had extensive experience in cast-in-place, post-tensioned, pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete parking consultation and planning. Frank is survived by his wife, Dr. Brooke Transue; son Donald Transue, PE (Margaret) Batavia, IL; and daughter Betsy Transue (Justin) Hastings of Crystal Lake, IL. His son Paul M. Transue died in 2020. He is survived by six grandchildren, Holden, Daphne, BrookeAnna, Jax, Gavin and Kinzie; brothers Dr. David Transue, M.D., Charles Transue, PE; three godchildren, Julia Joslyn of Hermosa Beach, CA., Christina Joslyn, Bloomfield Hills, MI, Jay Steinke, Framingham, MA. Frank was a member of the Elgin noon Rotary Club. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and chaired the Rotary student exchange program for two decades. Frank and his family hosted Rotary international students in their home. Frank had a lifelong commitment to the Elgin Y, serving as a volunteer and a board member, including tenure as Chairman of the Y Board. Frank and his family were members of the Elgin Country Club and St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church. Frank was a serious fly fisherman, golfer, and outdoorsman. He loved the northern streams and often retreated to fish the Manistee and Pere Marquette Rivers in Michigan. Services will be held (date undetermined) at St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church, Elgin, with burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Lowell, Michigan. Memorial Reception will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at the Elgin Country Club. Memorial contributions may be made to the Elgin Y, Golden Corridor YMCA, 300 West Wise Rd., Schaumburg, IL, 60193, and The Conservation Resource Alliance, 10850 Traverse Highway, Suite 1180, Traverse City, MI 49684.