Honoring Tradition.
Celebrating Life.

Frank Frodl

April 18, 1928 - April 28, 2018
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Thursday, May 3, 2018
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263

A short service will begin at 6:45 PM.

Driving Directions

Service

Friday, May 4, 2018
11:00 AM EDT
St. Mary's Catholic Church
423 First Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Map

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Emmanuel Hospice
401 Hall St. SW, Suite 263
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 719-0919

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Frank Frodl was a man of honor and strength who was content in whatever life brought. He was laid back, steady, and accepting with a love for life that was easy to see. A devoted family man, Frank felt incredibly blessed to watch his family grow alongside the love of his life. A lifelong resident of the community he loved, he was genuine, friendly, and the sort of person everyone seemed to know. Deeply loved, Frank will be forever missed.

The 1920s were an exciting time in America. Radios brought the world around us within our reach, motion pictures became available in both color and sound, and baseball legends Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb made baseball America’s favorite pastime. Amidst this exciting time was a time of great anticipation in the lives of Frank and Clara (Zimmer) Frodl as they were eagerly anticipating the birth of their new baby as the beauty of spring began to appear on the horizon in April of 1928, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their wait was over on April 18th when the baby boy they named Frank G. drew his first breath. He was joined in his family by his older brother, Robert, and his younger brother, Charles “Chuck.” Frank also had a brother named John who died as an infant.

In many ways, Frank experienced an upbringing that was typical for the youth of his generation. He was raised in the family home on First Street on the West Side of Grand Rapids and attended church and school at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Frank later went on to Catholic Central High School where he bowled. After graduating, he began working and learned the trade of butchering. As a young man, Frank was drafted into the Army, serving in Korea. While in the service, he was a cook, which meant that he ate well because he regularly cooked for the officers. Frank enjoyed his time in the service, and once he returned home he worked in the meat department at Kroger.

New and exciting changes were in store for Frank when he met the woman of his dreams. Her name was Tess Bement, and they met while he was working at Kroger. She took note of him, and eventually the couple began dating. It didn’t take the sweethearts long to fall in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Frank and Tess were married on August 16, 1958, at St. Mary's Church. After a honeymoon up North, the newlyweds settled into what would become their lifetime home on Scott, NW. Together Frank and his wife welcomed two children, Lynn and Frank, into their hearts and home. Frank was a devoted family man who was easygoing and laid back as a husband and father. They looked forward to family vacations up at the cabin near Baldwin. Frank had built this cabin near L Lake with some friends. While at the cabin, Frank always enjoyed fishing, but he also just liked being out in the open air. He did do some deer hunting, although it was likely that he only shot one deer in his life.

To support his family, Frank continued working as a butcher. After several years at Kroger, which later became Eberhardt, he began working for Bilo’s. From there, Frank worked at Madison Heights Foods where he was the manager of the meat department. He truly enjoyed his work as well as interacting with the customers. Frank’s family appreciated that he often came home with the day old meats, and of course he always knew how to get the best cuts of any meat.

Always one to keep busy, Frank was a man of many interests. He enjoyed bowling, and for years he was on a few leagues at Northfield Lanes and Wengers. A die hard Detroit Tigers fan, Frank faithfully watched them no matter their record. After getting home from work, he usually came home, read the paper, and caught a game if it was on while enjoying his nightly Carling Black Label Beer. Later in life, Frank enjoyed golfing with his son. After retiring, he went to work part-time in the mail room at Old Kent Bank. He primarily worked Mondays and Fridays, which left him three weekdays to fish at the cabin. During his retirement years, Frank started doing most of the household cooking. He never really made gourmet meals, just comfort foods with no recipe, just adding a little of this and that. Frank liked working outside on the lawn or clearing snow in the winter, and he was helpful to his neighbors. He always did enjoy a game of cribbage, too. Frank enjoyed taking his grandsons fishing at the lake, and he frequently went to their Little League games. Not only could he fish, he was also very efficient when it came to filleting pan fish.

Quiet, humble, and hardworking, Frank Frodl was an extraordinary man to know and love. He was someone who took things in stride, was non confrontational, and remained true to who he was each and every day no matter the circumstances around him. Frank was a loving husband and father, and his greatest joy was found in being surrounded by the ones he loved. Generous and giving, he wasn’t one to draw attention to himself but was willing to give while expecting nothing in return. Frank will never be forgotten.

Frank G. Frodl, age 90 of Grand Rapids, passed away April 28, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Tess; children Lynn & Carl Kuzma, and Frank Frodl Jr.; grandsons Carl and Steven; brother, Chuck (Mag) Frodl; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert (Bert) Frodl. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 4 at 11 AM at St. Mary's Church in Grand Rapids. Friends are invited to visit with Frank's family on Thursday from 4-7 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW where a short service will begin at 6:45 PM. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Emmanuel Hospice are appreciated. To read more about Frank, to share a favorite memory, or to sign his guestbook, visit www.lifestorynet.com.

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