Obituary of Frank Primeau
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Frank George Primeau Jr. was born in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada, on May 13, 1940. He was one of two children born from the union of the late Frank and Nora (Dibley) Primeau Sr. Frank graduated from Amherstburg High School in 1958. Following school he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy, honorably serving as a Sea Cadet.
As a young man Frank moved to Detroit to work for his grandfather's service station. He would marry the former Doreen James sharing in the birth of three children. Later Frank would marry, Darlene (Reaume) Beste on February 14, 1981 in Newport.
Frank worked as a welder for more than forty years. He moved to Port Austin and operated Eagle Welding and Fabricating for eleven years. In 1991, Frank sold the shop and he and his bride began a life of service to Christ. They enjoyed travel and performed missionary work in Alaska for St. Mary's Mission in the Yukon, and had also served with St. David in Arizona. In 2002 they moved back to Monroe.
Frank was a member of St. John Parish and of the Knights of Columbus 1266 where he worked with Harvest Pantry Concessions. Frank and Darlene continued to give of themselves serving with "God Works Food Kitchen" at Solid Rock Church for many years, and with the soup kitchen and festival at St. Joseph Parish. The couple also served with St. Vincent De Paul and the American Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team. Frank received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award by Barack Obama for Volunteer of the Year in 2013.
Frank enjoyed woodworking with Red Oak and Black Walnut making clocks, ornate crosses, music and jewelry boxes. He had a passion for music.
Frank George Primeau Jr., age 75 of Monroe, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2015. In addition to his parents his passing was preceded by a brother: Robert; sister- in-law: Alice Reaume; and brothers-in-law: Donald, James, Floyd, David, and Joseph Edward Reaume.
To cherish his memory, Frank leaves a beloved wife Darlene of Monroe; two daughters: Karen Marie (Randy) Masserant and Connie (Kerry) McAllister; one son: Christopher (Janna) Primeau; three step-sons: Anthony (Dawn) Beste, Thomas Beste (Bianca), and Terry Beste: one step- daughter: Mary Ann (Lee) Chapman; brothers and sisters-in-law: Carol Primeau; Irene Lester-Schaefer, Nancy Reaume, Richard (Judy) Reame, Marie Reaume, Jayne (Charlie) Vanwashenova, David (Debbie) Reaume; twenty-four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren with one more on the way.
Friends may gather on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 from 2:00-8:00pm at Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe Street (734)384-5185 where the Rosary led by Deacon Mike Stewart take place at 5:30pm. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 12:00pm on Wednesday; September 9, 2015 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 511 South Monroe Street with Father James Smalarz and Deacon Mike Stewart officiating. Procession will follow to Roselawn Memorial Park for burial.
Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to Solid Rock Church, God's Works, or St. John the Baptist Church. Online condolences at www.merklefs.com; Online Tributes page.