Robert "Bob" William Frank

Frank, Robert William "Bob"

Passed away on January 21, 2025, in Jackson, Michigan, at the age of 89 years. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Betty Frank; daughters Elaine (Mike) Adler, Barbara (Peet) Peeters, Kathleen (Mark) Beauchamp, and Ellen (Ron) Speer; his grandchildren Emily (TJ) Neely, Olivia (Scott) Peterson, Carly (Joe) Beard, Ashly (Tim) Pryor, Katherine Beauchamp, Maureen (Ahmed) Al-Tawil, Amanda (Jeff) Laake, Danielle Speer, Katherine Speer, and Derek Speer; brother Duane Frank; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Thelma Frank; sister, Billy Wrigglesworth, and brother, Dale Frank.

Bob was born in Okemos, Michigan, on August 14, 1935. He grew up in Lansing, Michigan, attending Lansing Eastern High School, where he played football, ran track, and played the trumpet in the school band. After high school, he served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves for 10 years where he rose to the rank of Staff Sargent. Bob and his young family moved to Jackson where he made a career selling insurance, first with Farmers Insurance Group then for many years with Hall and Kennedy until his retirement in 2000.

Bob had many and varied interests. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church, where he shared his faith in many ways: on the parish council, on committees for faith formation and fundraising, singing in the choir, as part of the Knights of Columbus, as a lector and Eucharistic minister, and by taking communion to nursing home residents.

The Kiwanis organization was one of Bob's passions for more than 30 years. He served as president for several terms and was the Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor for the state of Michigan for one term. Most recently he served as the secretary for the Jackson Club. He introduced two very worthwhile projects that the club continues today. The first is the "Bikes for Reading" program where students earn chances to win a bicycle by reading during the March reading month. During his time, Kiwanians gave out over 1000 bikes to children in Jackson. In the dictionary program he initiated, every 3rd grade student in Jackson County receives a dictionary to help improve their vocabulary and spelling skills. Other Kiwanis activities with which Bob helped included working at the MIS races, planning golf scrambles to benefit local children's programs, working the bellringing for the Salvation Army during the holidays, and arranging to "adopt" families at Christmas time to ensure children had gifts. He was recently honored for his many years of service and leadership by the Jackson Kiwanis Club.

Bob had many other interests, as well. His greatest love, besides Betty and his family, was golf. He was an avid golfer, participating in many leagues in the Jackson area. He also loved to bowl and was inducted into the Jackson Bowlers Hall of Fame. He was very proud of the many 300 games he bowled. For more than 20 years, Bob and Betty were members of the Guys and Dolls Dance Club which held monthly dances. Bob was known to cut quite a rug!

Bob will be mostly remembered for being a kind, compassionate, and generous man who loved the Lord and his family above all else. He loved reading to his grandchildren and great grandchildren while sitting with them in his recliner and giving them wheelbarrow rides around the backyard. He taught his daughters (and the neighborhood kids) how to play kickball and softball and how to ice skate on the rink he built in the backyard each winter. Above all, Bob gave us the best example of how to be a servant of God and neighbor, to be aware of the struggles of others and to help when we see someone in need. We hope to carry on his legacy.

According to his wishes, cremation has taken place.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Father Chas Canoy officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Church on Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the following charities: the John George Home, the Jackson Kiwanis Club, or St. John Catholic Church.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned for 135 Years