Frank Hess

Frank J. Hess, 100 died Friday, February 24, 2017 in Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Frank was born on April 12, 1916 in South Bend, IN to the late John and Rose (Robakawski) Hess. He lived in Niles for over 50 years. Frank was employed at Roth Plating in South Bend and had worked there for many years as a supervisor. He also worked at Bendix in South Bend. He retired from Tyler Refrigeration in Niles.

He was a member of Saint Mark Catholic Church, Niles. Frank enjoyed playing cards and dice with his family and dancing with his wife Helen at Cobert Lake, Edwardsburg MI. He also enjoyed fishing and tinkering in his garage.

On May 14, 1938, in Saint Mary Catholic Church, he married Helen A. (Klymzak) Kujawa. Together they celebrated over seventy years of being married. Helen died on July 19, 2009.

Frank is survived by his children Robert (Jackie) Hess, Ronald (Sharon) Hess, John (Carol) Hess, Joseph Hess, Paul (Linda) Hess, Diane Hess and Theresa Young, all of Niles, and Betty Gober of Edwardsburg and Helen (Terry) Helmick of Whiting, IN; 35 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Lorraine Dembinski and Isabel Jaroniak.

He is preceded in death by his wife Helen, sons Edward and Daniel and six grandchildren, a brother Clem Hess and a sister Virginia Ranchart.

Visitation for Frank will be on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 from 6-8 pm in Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main St. Niles. A rosary will be recited on Wednesday at 6pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at Saint Mark Catholic Church 3 North 19th Street in Niles beginning at 11:00 am with calling 1 hour prior at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in Frank’s memory may be made to West Woods of Niles 1211 Stateline Road, Niles, MI 49120.