Frank Wicks

Frank Wicks was a man who faced many challenges in his lifetime, yet enjoyed so many triumphs, so many successes, won through strength, determination, and his trademark sense of humor. He was a hardworking man, a veteran and entrepreneur, a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Most of all, Frank was a man who truly earned the life he led, a life we were so blessed to have shared.

Frank's story began on a warm spring day in 1930, in the little shoreline Village of Douglas, Michigan. Those were such difficult days in this country, which was caught in the quagmire of the Great Depression. Even in those dark days, William and Sadie (Coxford) Wicks found reason to celebrate on May 4, 1930, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Frank Arthur Wicks.

Frank was the youngest of four boys in the family's Douglas home, where his father was a caretaker of cottages at the Shorewood lake community. Frank grew up with a love for the outdoors, from hunting and golfing, to simply enjoying the beach and the beautiful West Michigan sunsets along the lake.

Frank attended Saugatuck Schools, and played basketball for the Indians' basketball team before graduating in 1948. Having witnessed the heroism of so many Americans during World War II, Frank soon joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

After proudly serving his country, Frank was discharged and returned home to the sandy shores of the Saugatuck-Douglas area. He took over ownership of The Shell Gas Station from his brother Bob in the early 1950's. One evening Frank went to the Douglas bowling alley, where he met a beautiful young woman named Lorraine Van Dyke, a nurse, who was working part time at the front counter at the alley. It was love at first sight for Frank, and they quickly began dating. Their romance grew, and the happy couple was married in 1959, beginning so many wonderful years together.

After their marriage Lorraine took a nursing job at Douglas Community Hospital. Frank continued running the station, which was more like a gathering place for friends than a gas station. It was hard work owning and operating his own business (especially back in the days of full service!), but Frank never shied away from hard work.

It wasn't long before the couple became parents, too, with the birth of a baby girl they named Lynn, and their son William rounded out the happy family not long after. Frank was so happy and proud to become a father, and was a very active and involved parent, as well.

Frank and "Rain" decided to try their hand in a new venture. They purchased the Douglas Food Shop and Bakery from Red Delke in the early 1960's. Frank applied his knowledge of eight years of running his own business, and Lorraine applied her natural gifts as a baker. Frank ran the store portion of the business and did the books, while Lorraine would get up early every morning to do the baking. Frank would get the kids ready for school, and then take them down to the store to have breakfast with mom. The store was always a decidedly family affair, and the kids remember spending plenty of time running around the bake table, getting "in the way" and just being together.

Of course, the family did plenty together besides work. They were a very close-knit clan, and spent many summer days down at the beach, where Frank would enjoy watching the kids swim (he wasn't much of a swimmer himself). The family had a beautiful lake home Lorraine's parents had built, at 2901 Lakeshore Drive on Lake Michigan, where they formed so many wonderful memories together, watching the spectacular sunsets, and summer storms come across the lake.

That home was important to the family, with a big basement complete with a fireplace and pool table, perfect for entertaining family and friends. Many holidays were spent at Frank's brother's house in Douglas, but Christmas was always reserved for Frank and Lorraine's. Family gatherings were great traditions in the Wicks clan, from the holidays, to boat races, to Sunday family dinners, when they usually had roast beef which was Frank's Favorite.

Frank and Lorraine got out of the bakery business after 11 years, and Frank took a job as a loan officer at Citizens Trust & Savings Bank in Saugatuck. Frank was working at the bank one day when it was robbed by armed gunmen, who locked him in the safe along with Pat Diepenhorst, and even put a gun to his head! The harrowing experience left a lasting impact on him, and for a long time afterward he would drive around the bank a few times before going in to work. He retired from the bank in the late 1980s, taking a well-deserved retirement.

Frank found plenty to keep him busy in retirement, and enjoyed going hunting, playing golf and having a game of gin rummy with his friends. He enjoyed deer camp with his friends and brothers every year, too, where the Rye Manhattans would flow right along with the friendly banter.

Frank and Lorraine also helped with the annual fundraising event at West Shore Golf Club in Douglas, benefiting the Special Olympics. Frank's nephew also was active in the event, and Frank loyally circled the date on his calendar for many years.

Frank faced his share of health problems through the years. In the early 80s, he battled throat cancer, yet he persevered. Later he developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in his lungs, and suffered a few strokes, as well. His beloved Lorraine lovingly cared for her husband in the last years of his life, going through it together, just as they did everything. Through all his troubles, Frank never lost his sense of humor, and always kept his strength and his spirits up.

Sadly, Frank died Tuesday, June 05, 2007, at Holland Hospital, under Hospice care. He was 77.

Frank was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life full of hard work, good times and so many fond memories. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, a great example and a good man. Frank worked so hard for the life he enjoyed, a life we were so blessed to have shared with him. He will be greatly missed.

His family includes: wife of 48 years Lorraine Wicks: daughter Lynn Wicks and Paul Vermeulen of Saugatuck, MI., son William and Kimberley Wicks of Algonquin, Illinois; five grand children (Mason, Riley, Jacob, Sean, Eric); brother Carl and Jean Wicks of Douglas, MI.; in-laws, Mrs. Alvin (Audrey) Van Dyke of Holland, Ken and Marge Van Dyke of Arizona, Don and Zeda Van Dyke of Hudsonville, MI., Marion Kortman of Holland, MI., Pauline Jousma of Saugatuck, MI., Lois Plaggemars of Zeeland, MI., Alice De Wys of Holland, MI., Bob Botsis of Holland, MI., many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A graveside services will be 10 am Saturday at the Douglas Cemetery with The Rev. Edith Winter officiating. Visiting will be from 2-4 and 7-9 pm Friday at Dykstra Funeral Home Saugatuck Chapel 520 Lake street in Saugatuck, MI. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Holland and to Area #12 Special Olympics Ottawa & Allegan County. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a favorite memory or photo of Frank, or to sign the online registry.