RAPID CITY - Franz Ernst (Frank E.) Morawa, 83, Rapid City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 30 2008. The only son of Franz and Ernestine (Jog) Morawa, he was born on 11 August 1925 in Wien (Vienna), the capital of Austria. Like his father, Frank studied engineering at the University of Vienna, only to be drafted into the German Army in 1942. After training with Pioniere or Mountain Engineering Troops in the Alps he was sent to Norway where he built and repaired aerial tramways and bridges. While traveling from Norway to Vienna by train via France after World War II, he was arrested by French authorities and held as a POW for one year near Metz. Back in Vienna, Frank graduated from university with degrees in Civil Engineering in 1947 and Electrical Engineering in 1949. In 1949, Frank immigrated to the United States where he attended the University of Washington in Seattle. For one year he worked for Pacific Oerlikon and then for the City of Seattle until 1953. From 1953 through 1962 he worked in the electrical engineering field all over America. In 1965 he established his own company, Continental Power in Highmore, SD. Frank moved to Rapid City in 1967 and in 1968 he married Elsie Bauer Schumacher. They operated Continental Power and Power Engineering until retirement in the year 2000. Frank was a man of vast experience in many fields and a great storyteller, quick to lend a needed hand and especially interested in current events taking place around the world. He read the news in English and German every day on his computer. In recent years he especially enjoyed his participation in the Black Hills Veterans Writing Group. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; a sister; his stepson, Joe Schumacher; and his loving wife of 40 years, Elsie. He is survived by his younger sister, Gerta Nestler of Vienna, Austria. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at the funeral home, with Fr. Arnold Kari officiating. Interment will be in Pine Lawn Memorial Park following the service. A memorial has been established to the Humane Society of the Black Hills.