Our sympathy to MLNA members, Babette Frisella-Briagas, Tony Frisella and the entire family of Frank Frisella. Frank passed away Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at Barnes Jewish Hospital.Frank Frisella, a horticulture icon and plantsman was well known in the Green Industry for his lifelong contribution to Horticulture. Founder of Frisella Nursery in 1953, his nursery built a reputation for service, quality and novelty plant material. He shared his gift, growing not only wonderful growing fields, and a successful business but also a family of green thumbs.
He had vision and a particularly keen eye for superior plant material. He enjoyed collecting, trialing and propagating reliable performers which are now cornerstones in the Midwest landscape. 
One of his favorites shrubs, Heptacodium miconioides was recently awarded recognition by the PLANTS OF MERIT program (award program that partners Missouri Landscape & Nursery Association, Illinois Green Industry Association, Missouri Botanical Garden, Powell Gardens and University of Missouri.)
Always ahead of his time, he had an extraordinary ability to share his horticulture passion, to his children, grandchildren and his horticulture family. Missouri Landscape & Nursery Association shares the Frisella family's loss.
Please share a memory, a moment. Post your sentiments and kind words here for the family. They will be passed along with our thoughts and prayers.
Frank Frisella Sr., 88, Marthasville, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis..
Mr. Frisella, son of Peter Frisella and wife Angelina, nee Candella, was born Sept. 8, 1919, in St. Louis. He received his education from Beaumont High School.On Oct. 26, 1946, he was united
in marriage to Marie Van Buren.Mr. Frisella was a member of St. Vincent's Church in Dutzow.He was the previous owner of Frisella Nursery in Defiance.Mr. Frisella was preceded in death by his parents; his wife on May 24, 2004; and four brothers, John, Joe, Sam and Pete Frisella.He is survived by two sons, Anthony Frisella and wife Karen and Frank Frisella Jr., all of Marthasville; one daughter, Babette Briages and husband Adan, Marthasville; two brothers, James Frisella and wife Theresa, St. Louis, and Angelo Frisella and wife Mickey, Arizona state; one sister, June Gagnepaine and husband Charlie, O'Fallon; 10 grandchildren, Tom Mee, Jill Roehrig and husband Gary, Gina Mee, Danny Mee, Kaitlin Mee, Matthew Mee, Michael Mee, Anthony Frisella, James Frisella and Amy Frisella; three great-grandchildren, Cody, Erica and Lexia; nieces; nephews; great-nieces and -nephews; other relatives and many friends.A funeral Mass was held Saturday, Nov. 3, at St. Vincent's Church in Dutzow. The Rev. Eugene Robertson officiated.Interment was in the church cemetery.Memorials to Emmaus Homes Inc., Marthasville campus, are preferred. The family was served by Nieburg-Vitt Funeral Home, Washington.
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During my working years at the University of Missouri-Columbia back in the 1980's, one of my roles was to purchase landscape plant material for campus projects. I would personally visit all of the Missouri nurseries who responded to our yearly request for bids. I would always look forward to visiting Frisella Nursery's fields because of Frank Frisella. I now cherish the memories of the many hours spent with Frank walking his nursery areas and engaging many conversations about the vast menagerie of plant varieties experienced during the day-long walks. Frank was a true inspiration for my untiring quest to learn about and trial new plant varieties for the challenging landscape of the lower Midwest. I feel fortunate that Frank Frisella touched my early professional life. Keep planting those trees, Frank, in your new found realm...heaven!
Bill Ruppert
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