Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Wirtz, Frank M. 1954
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 4, 2009, 2:24 pm

Ionia Sentinel, Tuesday, June 22, 1954

Frank M. Wirtz, died Monday at 11 p.m. at the Cook convalescent Home.  He had 
been a patient there for nine days and was recently released from the Ionia 
County Memorial Hospital.  He was confined to the hospital over the Memorial 
Day weekend and was unable to play taps at the monument for the first time in 
over fifty years.

He was born Dec. 3, 1871 in Coblenz, Germany, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob 
Wirtz.

He came to the United States as an immigrant boy in hopes that he might live in 
freedom.  He found that freedom and became a naturalized citizen of the United 
States.  Proud of his adopted land, Wirtz was ever watchful for an opportunity 
to serve it and his adopted neighbors.

At the age of 11, he went to work for his uncle, Phillip Endres, in the brewery 
on North Dexter street in Ionia.  He later was employed in the Pere Marquette 
car shops and the wagon works which was later known as Hayes Manufacturing Co.  
He eventually went into business for himself and organized the Wirtz Coal Co. 
which he owned and operated for 48 years.

In 1893 he was married to Nellie Kenny of Ionia who survives him.  He is also 
survived by two daughters and four sons, Sister Mary Sylvester of Monroe, Mrs. 
Charles Bird of Grand Rapids, Peter, Paul and Jerry of Ionia, and Jean of Grand 
Rapids.  One son, Booth, died in 1930.  Also surviving are eight grandchildren 
and eight great-grandchildren.

As an accomplished trumpeter he volunteered to sound taps each Memorial Day on 
the court house lawn in memory of the men and women who had died fighting for 
freedom.

He was an honorary member of the Rex Leland Post of AMVETS in Ionia and had 
sounded taps for 52 years for veterans of all wars on Memorial Day.

One of his final patriotic duties was to appear at Arlington National Cemetery 
Dec. 7, 1952, where he played taps at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier and for 
deceased Korean veterans.

He was too ill to appear this year and for the first time in more than 60 years 
was not able to take part in Memorial Day exercises.

Several days ago Mayor Anthony Balice wrote to President Eisenhower telling him 
of Mr. Wirtz’s illness.  Mayor Balice received a letter from the President, 
signed by the President’s secretary, saying he was sorry Mr. Wirtz was ill and 
sending best wishes for a speedy recovery.

He was a member of the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic church where he had served 
mass for 60 years.  He was also a member of the Elks lodge, Knights of 
Columbus, Rosary and Holy Name Societies.

Rosary will be recited at Myers funeral home at 8 p.m. Wednesday with prayer 
services at 8:30 Thursday morning.  Requiem High Mass will be sung at SS. Peter 
and Paul church Thursday at 9 a.m.

Burial will be in Mt. Olivet cemetery.


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