- Date Of Birth: October 2, 1922
- Date Of Death: March 21, 2016
- State: Michigan
Frank L. Weiger, Jr., 93, of Midland died peacefully in his sleep at home with his caregiver daughter with him on Monday, March 21, 2016. Born at his aunt’s house on Jerome Street on October 2, 1922 to Frank B. and Mary (Smelser) Weiger, he attended Midland High where he played baseball and football.
He lived in his beloved Midland all his life. At 17 he hitchhiked to his uncle’s house in Sault Saint Marie where he got a job drilling holes for dynamite for the MacArthur Canal at the Soo Locks. He came home at the end of summer and joined the Michigan National Guard. An avid softball player, he pitched for several teams in the summer league.
Inducted into the army after Pearl Harbor, he completed basic training at Fort Knox and was sent to communications training at Fort Leavenworth. While on training maneuvers, an accident happened whose injury resulted in a medical discharge. He waited six months and then went with his cousin and best friend, Doug VanSteinberg, to enlist in the Navy. He made it to the final physical before being turned down. He told his grandson that his one regret in life was that he wasn’t allowed to serve his country.
Frank took a job at the munitions factory in Saginaw where he met Rayma Jean Dorrance of Mackinaw City (who winked first was never resolved). They were married at the Church of the Straits in Mackinaw City on March 11, 1944. They were married for 66 years before her death at Christmas time 2010.
They returned to Midland and he took a job at The Dow Chemical Company starting out in the ammonia plant and then became a fireman at Dow for 10 years. He finished his career in steam trap and valve repair and retired in 1975. He played softball until age made him retire and then he coached Little League for many years. An avid golfer up to age 90, he also played Contract Bridge attaining the rank of Life Master. Frank was a member of the First United Methodist Church for over 60 years.
He is survived by his daughter Connie Ley; his beloved grandchildren, Nick (Kay) Ley of Sanford and Heather Ley of Napa, California; and his great grandsons, Raygan and Corbin Ley who brought him so much joy; siblings, Jerry Weiger of Gaston, SC, Betty Pickering of Gastonia, NC, and Bob Weiger of Evart, MI. Nieces and nephews Shirley Brown, Joe (Pat) Hitchcock, David (Jill) Pickering, Marla (Van) Baumgardner, Steve (Michelle) Weiger, Philip Weiger, Mary (Matt) Bonham, Chuck Rhyne, Curt Pickering, Sue Mowat, Jean Keiser, Ervin (Melodie) Barrett, Janet Grawey, Brent (JoJo) Cosens, and Tom (Sheri) Dorrance.
Preceding him were his siblings Helen (Shorty) Rhyne and Ruth (Paul) Hitchcock as well as his parents and wife. Niece and nephews Barb Smith, Greg Weiger, and Robert Weiger also preceded him.
