William J. "Billy" Frohnapfel, Jr., was born October 21, 1951. He died peacefully January 7, 2016, with his family surrounding him.  Billy was born in Tulsa to Patricia and the late William J. Frohnapfel.  He attended St. Mary's Catholic School, Bishop Kelley and Memorial High Schools.  He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Business.  Billy married Karla Cooper in 1977 and they enjoyed nearly 40 happy years together.  Billy and Karla settled in Skiatook, where they raised their children, B.J. and Sarah Frohnapfel.  His children were not just his kids, they were his life, his best friends, and their many friends were his friends, too.  Billy began a career in accounting but soon realized that a desk job was not for him.  He started a successful home building company, Diamond Homes, and built beautiful homes in Tulsa, Skiatook and surrounding areas.  He and his son, B.J., who joined him in the business, have been honored by many awards for their home building quality and workmanship.

Billy was a wonderful person who had a great sense of humor, full of wit and charm, with a smile for everyone he knew. He was larger than life, so full of compassion and generosity.  Often he quietly helped people out financially and thought nothing of sharing whatever he had.  He was a man of honor and integrity, someone you could count on at all times.  He was a family man who loved his large, extended family above all else.  The men, who each worked for him for over 30 years, loved and respected him and regarded him as a friend rather than employer.  He was kind, loyal, fun, generous and entertaining in any setting.  He built stock cars and enjoyed racing on Friday nights and has a roomful of trophies attesting to his skill as a racing driver.  He loved fishing and boating with friends and family on Lake Skiatook.  He enjoyed countless vacations with his family, usually on a beach in Florida or Mexico, where he was in his element.  It is with great sadness that we must say goodbye to our dear Billy, as he was one in a billion and was taken from us too soon.  We will always remember him and honor him by living our lives fully without pretense or hypocrisy.  He was such a good man.

Billy is survived by: his loving wife, Karla; his children, B.J. Frohnapfel and his wife, Mary Cogan, of Tulsa, and Sarah Frohnapfel and her husband, Chad Haugland, of Denver. He is also survived by: his grandchildren, Cogan and Griffin Frohnapfel, and Cooper Haugland.  Billy was predeceased by his father, William J. Frohnapfel, and his sister, Susan Frohnapfel Bartlett.  He leaves behind: his mother, Patricia Frohnapfel; his sisters, Sandy Rodolf and Patty McMahon; his brother, Terry Frohnapfel; nieces, Caroline Rodolf and Allie Day; and nephews, Dewey Bartlett III, Brendan Rodolf, Matthew McMahon, Nicholas Cooper and Tyler Cooper.

Services will be held Thursday, January 14, at 2 PM at First Baptist Church, 825 W. Rogers Blvd., Skiatook, OK. Burial at Osage Gardens Cemetery in Skiatook. Reception to follow.  Friends may honor Billy's memory in the fight against colon cancer, with contributions to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 .

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL, 918-585-1151