Frank Schmich

With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around him, Frank Schmich was a hardworking man of great honor who was guided by his unwavering faith.

During the rest between WWI and WWII, Wendel and Gertrude (Jauch) Schmich were blessed with the birth of their son, Frank, on December 20, 1927, in Yugoslavia. New and exciting changes were in store when he and his parents along with his brother, Wendelin, landed in New York on July 7, 1950. The family initially worked on a fruit farm, but later Frank, his brother and father, got a job at Betz Industries where Frank worked for the rest of his life.

It was an exciting day when Frank met the love of his life Adelgunde, while at a dance at the German American Club. They began dating, and Frank and Adelgunde were married on February 17, 1958, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They initially lived at 1414 Herrick Street, NE, on the East side of Grand Rapids, and they were soon blessed with the births of two sons, Arnold and Rob. In 1969 they moved to Powers Court NW and were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Pamela. As a family they enjoyed traveling all over the Midwest by car, and as their son, Arnold, moved around later on Frank and Adele enjoyed visiting him.

Always one to be busy, Frank enjoyed a variety of things. He and his wife were very involved at the German American Club and the Edelweiss Club where he sang in the choir. As a devout Catholic Frank attended mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church every Sunday. At home he enjoyed caring for the yard and his beautiful flowers, and on the weekend he loved grilling steaks, burgers, dogs, and kielbasa. When relaxing, Frank loved reading military, history, and fiction as well as the Grand Rapids Press, and watching both mens and womens MSU basketball and MSU football.

Later in life, Frank was deeply saddened with the death of his beloved wife in October of 2014. Just this past February he was diagnosed with bone cancer, and little could be done.

A loving, patient, and hard working family man, Frank Schmich will never be forgotten.

Frank Schmich, aged 88 of Grand Rapids, passed away on Friday evening March 4, 2016 at Sanctuary of St. Mary. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wendel and Gertrude Schmich, his son Arnold, his wife Adelgunde, and his brother, Wendelin. He is survived by his children, Robert Schmich and wife Alexandra Shaw, Pamela and Mark Vandervest; his grandchildren, Eric and Luke Vandervest; his sister-in-law, Virginia Schmich; nieces and nephews, Richard and Colleen Schmich, Gloria Schmich, Ronald and Wendy Gulbis; and many friends. Frank honorably served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. . He retired from Betz Foundry where he worked for 42 years, and was a member of the Edelweiss Club. He was a loving and dedicated husband, father, brother and a friend to all who knew him. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 2510 Richmond NW. Burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet his family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM with the Scripture Service at 7:00 PM. Contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice of Michigan or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. To sign Frank’s guest book and to leave your own memory of him, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com.