Frank E. St. Martin, age 88, of 320 South 11th Street, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, October 3, 2009, at the Bishop Noa Home where he and his loving wife Elaine have resided for the past five years.
Frank was born February 10, 1921, in Escanaba, the son of Elmer A. and Henrietta (VandeWiele) St. Martin. Frank was raised in Escanaba and attended and graduated from the Escanaba High School in 1938. Frank went on to enlist in the United States Coast Guard, serving during WWII. He received an honorable discharge in November, 1945. On January 8, 1944, Frank was united in marriage to the former Elaine Beauchamp at the St. Anne Catholic Church in Escanaba. He and Elaine made their home and raised their family in Escanaba. Throughout most of his life, Frank was self employed as a contractor throughout the Delta County communities. In addition, he worked as a shipwright and cabinet maker. Frank spent the last ten years of his career, working for the City of Escanaba, as the Escanaba Harbor Master, finally retiring on January 14, 1982. At a young age, Frank became very passionate about sailing, building his first boat while just out of high school. Frank can be credited with teaching the love and art of sailing to many Escanaba area boaters-to be, beginning with his own sons, daughters, and grandchildren. On August 4, 2000, Frank was recognized for his many years of service to the Escanaba boating community when the City of Escanaba dedicated the new yacht harbor building in honor of Frank
Anonymous
Dear Elaine,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of Fred’s passing. I have only known you a short 9 months and thoroughly appreciated being welcomed by you and being with you at Mass, sing-a-long and just visiting. Your faith, love and devotion have been a great experience for me. God Bless You and help you recall all the wonderful memories of Frank’s time with you. Your friend, Dorothy
Dorothy Kollmann
Escanaba, MI
Ed
My hope and prayer is that God will wrap his loving arms around you and your family as you grieve the loss of your dad.
Diane Cloutier Srutowski
Gladstone, MI
Ed,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Patti (Schilling) Cari
Livonia, MI
I will always remember Uncle Frank’s love of the lake and the boats. We had some great sailboat rides in the harbor. My prayers are with you.
Corinne Winter
Davenport, IA
Ed and Family,
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. But what a fun life your Dad had. Between family, friends and the water he sure kept busy and active. It seemed as though he got to do everything he wanted to with his time. Not everyone can say that! I keep you in my thoughts.
Joyce Babel-Worth
Sheboygan, WI
I will miss Uncle Frank greatly. I can remember coming to Escanaba for home leave from Europe and he would take us out on the lake and go fishing off the peirs. We will miss you but I know that you and Dad are having a great time in heaven swapping sailing and fishing stories. We love you. Cora Bentz
Cora Bentz
Knoxville, TN
Dear Maggie and Jeannie,
You and your families are in my thoughts and prayers as you grieve the loss of your Dad. It is so hard to lose someone who has played such a huge part of our lives. May you enjoy many happy memories of his life.
I don’t specifically recall him as a neighbor many, many years ago but I know when we were kids living next to each other on 10th street he probably influenced/corrected our (sister Patti and me) bad behavior in the sand box!
Mary Kay Messier Millard
Twin Lake, MI
To Elaine, Ed and all the family,
My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
I remember the one time Frank got my family out on a sailboat, which was no small feat as my Mom is afraid of the water! We sailed to one of the light houses and met a small gnome of a man who’d been living there for many months. I was young, but for some reason I can recall the details like it was just yesterday.
My warmest condolences as Frank sails away to his next great adventure.
Jean Joque
Bedford, IN
Uncle Frank it was always fun to go to your house and have fun with my cousins. Thanks for everything. God Bless and keep you and dad.
Patricia St. Martin-Dixon-Scruggs
Knoxville, TN
My name is Paul; I used to be Frank & Elaine’s personal care assistant a few years ago. I have appreciated their kindness as clients and considered them friends. They seemed jovial even after moving to Bishop Noa. What a legacy left to their family. My prayer and sympathy is with you all.
C. Paul Lawson
Spring, TX
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.Every time we get our sail boat out in the spring we think of Frank and the ride he gave us. Not sure if I have forgiven him for getting Earl hooked on sailing. Hugs, Earl and Barb (Lancour) Collins
Barb Collins
Edgerton, WI
Growing up as an Army brat my family moved around a lot so there aren’t many places I can go to revisit childhood memories. Grandma & Grandpa’s house in Escanaba is the exception. I can remember playing with Lincoln Logs on the livingroom floor, being fascinated by all the neat things on the shelves behind Grandpa’s desk, and peeking into Grandpa’s workshop. There was always lots of interresting stuff in there… that I wasn’t allowed to touch. I could go on and on about memories of that house. No matter how old I got I went back to feeling like a kid again whenever I would visit that house.
My favorite memory of Grandpa is of the two of us sitting on the back porch while he made a bracelet for me out of rope. I remember it taking quite a bit of time because he made it right on my wrist. But I didn’t mind it taking so long. He made them for me several times over the years, and I would wear them until they got filthy because I knew it would be a long time before I’d see Grandpa again to get another one. I would even soak my arm in bleach to try to make them last longer. I am very greatful for the memory of those times that I had with my Grandpa. I will miss his smile and his jokes but I’ll keep those memories for the rest of my life.
Diane Gromoske
Menominee, MI