Frank A. Domitrovich

TUCSON, Ariz. - Frank A. Domitrovich died at the age of 88 on March 30, 2015, at St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson. He was born in Ontonagon, Mich., on Oct. 8, 1926, son of the late Frank and Mary Domitrovich.

He graduated from the Ontonagon High School in 1945.  When he started school, he could only speak Croation and as he learned English, he taught his parents and siblings.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army, served in the European Theater and was discharged as a staff sergeant. As a World War II Veteran, he flew on the 2013 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He attended Michigan State University and returned to Ontonagon to full-time farming. In 1948, he married Mary Amich in Ontonagon. They had six children.

His career, in addition to farming, included M-64 bridge operator, Ontonagon County Juvenile Officer, Ontonagon County Friend of the Court, Independent Insurance agent and real estate broker. In 1964, he and Richard Wagner formed the Dick Wagner Agency, today known as Domitrovich Insurance and Real Estate. He was so proud that his brother, sons and grandson became part of the business.

He loved life in Ontonagon, and served as Ontonagon Township Supervisor, was on the Ontonagon School Board, the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School Board, the Ontonagon County EDC Board, the Citizens State Bank Board of Directors and the U.P. Insurance Agents Association. He was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, was a 4th Degree Knight, the Ontonagon Lions Club, the Ontonagon County Democratic Party and was a life member of the Lake of the Clouds VFW.

After retiring he and Mary traveled and found the perfect location for a winter home in Tucson. They lured numerous Ontonagon friends and relatives to join them.

Family was very important to him and visits from family and friends made him so happy. He was a very positive person, and had a huge impact on all who knew him. He loved to travel and especially enjoyed road trips to new places. A favorite trip was to Yugoslavia, the homeland of his parents. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, playing cards and relaxing at Lake Superior. He was quite an artist, illustrating the Spotlight (school newspaper) with cartoon-type drawings, and he especially loved to draw for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife; sons, Carl (Sara), John, Tom (Denise), Jerry (Julie); and daughters, Cathy (Rob) Saffer, and Dorothy (Don) Bussiere; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brothers, Carl (Janet), Stanley (Nancy), Tony (Barbara), George (Judy); a sister, Dorothy (Tom) Condon; a sister-in-law, Agnes Wolfe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Martin; sister, Mary Lou; sister and brother-in-law, Helen and George Hoefferle; and son-in-law, Gary LeMoine.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2015, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Ontonagon, with Fr. Michael Jacobus as Celebrant. The family will receive relatives and friends from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. The rite of committal and internment will follow at the Holy Family Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Ontonagon County Veterans Association.

The family requests that contributions in memory of Frank be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Ontonagon.

The Cane Funeral Home is assisting the family. Friends may view Frank's obituary and leave messages of remembrance at canefuneralhome.com.