Francis E. Marquard

Francis "Rube" E. Marquard was determined and independent, an entrepreneur who used his resourcefulness to serve his family and community. His loyalty and wit won him many friends and earned the respect of those who knew him. John and Mary Cynthia ( Kiel ) Marquard of North Muskegon, Michigan, welcomed a sixth child to their bustling household when little Francis arrived on May 29, 1909. Another baby followed, and with six boys and one girl sharing a house with no indoor plumbing or electricity, Francis quickly learned to share and to avoid waste. He also learned to work hard, helping out in the family's sawmill business from the time he was five. The Marquards valued time together, faith, and education, priorities that Francis adopted as his own. The family joined Community United Methodist Church when Francis was about nine years old and he remained a member there for the rest of his life. After grammar school, Francis attended Muskegon High and began playing baseball. He dropped out of school for one year in order to work, but he returned when he could and graduated with the class of 1928. With financial assistance from his sister Elva and a baseball scholarship, he attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and pitched for the baseball team, leading them to a state championship with a 1-0 victory over Michigan State. He set a season win record of 8-0, resulting in his selection as an All American. He graduated from Western in 1933. The St. Louis Cardinals signed Francis, but an arm injury ended his major league career. In the midst of the Great Depression, he was fortunate to find work as a pitcher on a team in South Carolina. One unforgettable day, Francis found himself facing an aging "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Even nearing the age of fifty, Joe got the better of Francis that day. Francis ended up on a paper mill team in Three Rivers, Michigan. He learned about wool felts used in the paper making process and came up with the idea of recycling them. He founded Norseman Wool Products in 1935, and eventually ended up buying felts from mills in twenty-two cities, recycling them into blankets, jackets, snowsuits, mittens, and potholders. While at Western, Francis met a young woman named Wilda Jane Dake. The two dated for a time and then exchanged vows in 1940. They bought their first home in North Muskegon and started their family when daughter Jane arrived in 1942 and Cynthia in 1943. At the time, the United States was entrenched in World War II. Francis joined nearly twenty million other Americans by planting a Victory Garden in his yard, freeing up large amounts of produce for military use. He remained an avid gardener for the rest of his life. The end of World War II was cause to rejoice, but it did bring a challenge for Francis when the U.S. Army added their surplus blankets to the national market, cutting into Francis' business. Resolutely, Francis packed the family and a load of blankets into the car and began looking for new buyers. He made a big sale soon after setting out, and also began selling blankets to the mills where he purchased the felts. In his travels around the Midwest, Francis noticed that the Amish used wool for their horse blankets and buggy robes. He decided to try to market raw wool to them and established not only a successful trade, but also precious, lasting friendships. Francis loved spending time with his daughters. In the spring and fall, the family traveled to places like New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston. They always stayed home during the summer months, however, since nothing could beat Muskegon 's beautiful lakes in Francis' opinion. He looked forward to big family picnics at Lake Michigan. The family moved to a new house in the Bear Lake Shores subdivision that Francis developed in the late 1950s, but when the girls finished college and moved away, Francis and Wilda built their retirement home on Muskegon Lake. They looked forward to visits from family and friends, especially when their two grandchildren came by. Always active, Francis was a champion handball player and played until his knee-replacement surgery in 1985. He did exercises every morning into his nineties, including two hundred sit-ups, and loved to show off by picking ladies up off the ground during church social hour. He enjoyed ice fishing in the shanty he built and loved working out-of-doors, planting flowers, building fences, and repairing his deck. He worked on several building and remodeling projects, and once brought some Amish friends to help build a house. The environment was a major concern for Francis long before it became a popular cause. He always had a mulch pile, bundled newspapers, recycled every bottle and can, and never had garbage pick-up. Every weekday morning for fifty years, he met a group of friends for coffee. Francis and Wilda developed an interest in antiquing. He became an unofficial, North Muskegon historian, collecting photos and stories about the community as well as Community United, and he could inform interested listeners about the city's important milestones. He collected old sheet music, inspired by memories of his sister Elva playing the piano and his family singing World War I songs. In 1990, Francis was devastated when he lost his beloved Wilda, but he continued to stay busy with church activities and work. He began spending winters in warmer climates, usually Arizona or Florida, but always returned to North Muskegon where he was known and respected by the entire community. As a faithful member of Community United for eighty-eight years, Francis was active in many church projects and served as Chairman of the building committee. The city of North Muskegon and the State of Michigan recognized him on the occasion of his seventy-fifth anniversary as a member of the church. One of Francis' greatest legacies was his annual blanket project, which he started in 1962. Every Christmas, he sewed one hundred pure wool blankets for the poor. When he turned ninety-six, he no longer had the strength to sew in his chilly garage, but his church congregation took up the challenge and used his antique sewing equipment to make the blankets in his stead. His example of service, generosity, and dedication will continue to influence his loved ones and friends for years to come. Francis died Saturday, December 9, 2006. He is survived by two daughters, Jane Marquard of Chicago and Cynthia Marquard of New Buffalo; grandchildren, Kathryn Horberg and Benjamin ( Elizabeth ) Horberg; one great granddaughter, Camila; and several nieces and nephews. His wife, Wilda, preceded him in death. Family and friends are invited to Francis' visitation on Thursday, December 14, from 2-4 and from 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 15, at 11:00 a.m. at Community United Methodist Church in North Muskegon with Rev. Robert Lynch officiating. Interment will be at Laketon Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of Community United Methodist Church. Please visit Francis' personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guest register, or view his Life Story film.