Damir Franekic

Dr. Damir Franekic PhD, 88, of Bethlehem peacefully passed away on December 3, 2025 in his home surrounded by his family. He was a loving husband of 65 years to Etelka Franekic. Father to his son Damir Franekic Jr, daughter in-law Anne and grandfather to Kira and Nikolas Franekic.

Damir was born May 14, 1937 in Zagreb, Croatia, son of the late Mihajlo and Ana (Repinc) Franekic. He received his Undergraduate and Masters degrees from the University of Zagreb in Applied Mathematics.

In 1969 he immigrated to the United States with his wife and son from the former Yugoslavia to attend Lehigh University, where he earned his PhD in Applied Mathematics. Damir's career spanned being a professor of mathematics and computer science in the Pennsylvania State University system, Lafayette Collage and Lehigh University. He worked in the private sector under contract to the United States Navy at the Naval Air Weapons Center at Warminster Naval Air Station and for Bell & Howell until retirement.

Damir lived for spending time with his dear friends and family, but everyone was second to his grandkids Kira and Nikolas. He reveled in dinners, backyard barbecues, and simple social get togethers with his local former Yugoslav and American friends, enjoying fellowship, food, music, conversation, and lively debate.

He developed a lifelong love of aviation after glimpsing WW2 aircraft flying over his village as a young boy. He went on to earn both a sailplane and private pilot licenses, and logged over 270 hours in the sky. When not in the air, he could be found playing tennis at the Sand Island Tennis Courts and at Lehigh University with his friends and colleagues. An avid tennis fan, he shared the sport he loved with his son and grandson, and spent many years volunteering for Lehigh University's tennis facility.

Service: Family and friends are invited to his visitation 9:30-11:00 am Thursday, December 11, 2025 at the Connell Funeral Home, Inc., 245 East Broad Street, Bethlehem followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 at Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 730 West Broad Street Bethlehem. The inurnment will conclude services at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem, with a luncheon to follow. Condolences may be offered online at www.connellfuneral.com.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Society of St Joseph of Bethlehem, P.O. Box 1367, Bethlehem, PA 18016 or St Jude Children's Research Hospital.