Frank Parcheta's Obituary
Frank Parcheta passed away at his apartment in American House of Spring Lake on the 20th of January, four days after his 101st birthday. He was born in 1920 in Chicago, the youngest child of Adam and Victoria Parcheta of Poland. His mother died when he was eight months old and he was cared for by relatives until he was two years old. His father then decided to move to Robinson Township near Grand Haven where he could raise his six children on a farm. Adam placed Frank with his neighbors, Nellie and Bruno Pytlinske, while he looked for a wife. But by the time Adam found a wife, Frank was firmly ensconced with the Pytlinske’s, so he remained with them. He met his brothers and sister often to play and go to school, so he always felt as if he had two families. Frank graduated from 8th grade at North Robinson School and decided that he wanted to go on to high school in Grand Haven. He and Bruno took odd jobs for two years while also running the farm, so he could purchase a Model T Ford to drive to school. In high school, he applied for an apprenticeship with Kel-ler Tool Company (now known as Cooper Industries), and worked half a day for four years - yet he still graduated with straight A’s.
Frank married Lucille Pelton of Robinson Township in 1940 in Grand Haven. They lived across from Felix Pytlinski’s store on Stern’s Bayou for a few years while Frank drove into Grand Haven to work. As WWII dragged on, Frank decided to join the Navy to help out, even though they now had three of their eventual five children. Frank took his basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago in August of 1944. He served aboard the U.S.S. Mervine, a destroyer used to protect merchant ships around North Africa. The ship
was then fitted with mine-sweeping equipment and was sent to Okinawa in the Pacific. Two months after the war ended, he was discharged and returned home. Frank continued working for over thirty years at Keller Tool in Grand Haven, rising to supervisor of the Tool Machining Division.
Frank and Lucille built a house on Green Street in Robinson Township and Frank took an interest in community activities. He was on the Robinson Township Planning committee for ten years, the hospital board for seven, was a committee member of the Boy Scouts for sixteen years, and a master for the cub scouts.
Frank’s wife, Lucille, died just 11 months ago, after 79 years of marriage. Frank’s brothers, Matthew (Henrietta), Harry (Eve), John (Florence), and Joe (Olive), all predeceased him, as did his only sister, Helen Witkowski (Stanley). He leaves his five children, Sharon DeWreede (Robert), Douglas Parcheta (Sandra), Terry Parcheta (Susan), Susan Novak (Bill), and Sally Parks, Jr. (Paul). He is survived by his 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Frank’s children and grandchildren will remember his love of playing golf, bowling and dancing. He will especially be remembered for his basement tool shop that produced many finely engineered projects as well as a bicycle boat used for fishing and swimming in Stern’s Bayou. Frank was a long-time member of the Eagles and had many memorable occasions there. After the children left home, he and Lucille bought a camper and travelled around the United States, sometimes attending golf tournaments and sometimes visiting their far-flung children. Frank will be missed for his positive attitude, his never-ending energy, and the time he devoted to his children, his relatives, and his friends.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at American House and North Ottawa Hospice. Without their endeavors, Frank and Lucille would not have been able to stay together as long as they did. Our parent’s devotion to each other will forever be an ex-ample to follow.
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