Frank Kalin
March 31, 1925 — March 22, 2015
Frank Lynn Kalin, age 89 years of Niles, Michigan died at 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015 following a brief illness.
He was born on March 31, 1925 in Gary, Indiana to Karl and Margaret (Imber) Kalinowski. He was raised in North Judson, Indiana and has lived in Niles most of his life. He earned his high school diploma from Brandywine High School, and has completed courses at Michigan State University and the University of Notre Dame. He was employed by Bendix in South Bend for thirty-one years, retiring in 1984.
Frank was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Navy, and was a member of the American Legion Post #51 in Buchanan, Michigan. He was a photographer and videographer, and maintained a production studio to serve various clients including weddings. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, and keeping his skills up to date on the latest computer software and hardware.
He was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Kalin in 2013, a grandson, O’Rion S. “Bug” Gilbert in 1992; and by his parents, and siblings Stanley, Joe, Edith, Katie, Gerty, Helen, and Bernice. He was formerly married to Alberta June Volker.
Surviving family includes his children, Cheryl (& Michael) Gray, Keith (& Deborah) Kalin, Gregory Kalin, and Jeffrey (& Carolyn) Kalin, all of Niles; grandchildren Jacob Firth, Danielle (& Eric) Byrum, Carly (& Jason) Gornichec, Jodi Kalin, Timothy (& Nevada) Kalin, and Benjamin Kalin; great-grandchildren Kaylin, Orion, Amelia, Alex, and Austin; Frank’s siblings, Robert Kalin, Nancy Arthur, and Dorothy Hefner; many nieces and nephews; and Frank’s companion of forty years, Dollis McNeil of Buchanan and her family, daughter Kellie (& Jeff) Jerue of Buchanan, grandsons Jeffery and Brandon and great-grandson, Cameron.
The Catholic Funeral Liturgy for Frank Kalin will be read at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by Deacon Roger Gregorski of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51. Burial will be later, privately, at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Contributions in memory of Frank Kalin may be made to Hospice at Home.