Francis "Frank" Fitzmaurice Franz

Francis “Frank” Fitzmaurice Franz passed away on Feb. 15, 2020, surrounded by family at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan. He was 91.
Frank was born on April 9, 1928, in Saginaw to parents John M. Franz and Veronica A. Franz, nee Sheehan.
He grew up in Saginaw and graduated from SS. Peter and Paul School in 1946. He graduated from then-Central Michigan College of Education with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1951 and received a Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University in 1969.
Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 after being drafted. He was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia and his rank upon separation was corporal. Frank’s military service was a lifelong source of pride and many fond memories for him.
On June 6, 1959, Frank married Jean Ellen Sowatsky. They were married for 59 years and had two children: a son, David (Diane) Franz, of Lansing, and a daughter, Lynn (Michael) Lockwood, of Saginaw.
In 1993, Frank retired from General Motors Powertrain Division with 30 years of service in the transportation department. He was a longtime member of the Saginaw Valley Transportation Club and also of American Legion Post 0439.
He taught a business course at Delta College and taught math classes for adults earning General Education Diplomas.
Frank also taught catechism and was an extraordinary minister at St. Stephen Catholic Church.
As a younger man, Frank enjoyed spending time with his brother, Myron Franz, and their father at the family business, Gratiot Lunch, which later became Franz Bar, on Saginaw’s West Side.
Frank liked walking in the woods and traveling to northern Michigan, especially to Petoskey and Traverse City. He had a particular fondness for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and his mother’s hometown of Calumet.
Frank enjoyed reading the news and learning about history and cars. He was known for his sharp sense of humor, wry wit, and insatiable sweet tooth. He will be missed by family and friends.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his brother, and his sister, Dorothy Alderton. He is survived by his children and their spouses, grandchildren Heather (Scott) Jordan, Erin (Peter) Goodwin, Preston Lockwood, Nicholas Franz and Sarah Franz, and two great-grandsons Luke and Adam Jordan.
Frank’s family wishes to thank the staff at Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center for the exceptional care they provided him during his final days.
Honoring Frank’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private memorial service has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, the family has designated the VA Medical Center, 1500 Weiss St., Saginaw, MI 48602, for memorial contributions.