Genevieve "Jeanne" L. Frick

Jeanne Frick was a woman in constant motion. She never seemed to sit still very long, and always jumped at the chance to work, to help, or to love. Jeanne was a special lady, a vibrant, brilliant woman, whose mind was always as active as the rest of her. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and trusted friend, yet most of all, Jeanne taught us that life is a journey, one we were so blessed to take with her. Jeanne's story began on a hot summer day in 1919, in the beachfront town of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were tumultuous times in this country and across the globe, as World War I reached its dramatic conclusion, and Prohibition began. Yet in the town of Muskegon, Charles and Rosa Belle (Pierce) Payne had more to celebrate than the war's end that summer. On July 14, 1919, a warm, muggy Monday in Muskegon, the couple celebrated the birth of their second of three children, a daughter they named Genevieve. "Jeanne," as she was called, had an older brother Robert and younger brother Arthur sharing the family home in Muskegon. When she was a young girl, however, her parents divorced, and her mother and children moved for a time to Idaho, where her uncle owned a sheep ranch. Her mom and her grandmother worked as cooks at the ranch, and Jeanne did her fair share on the farm, too. Eventually her mother married a man named John McLaughlin, and they moved to Portland, Maine. Jeanne loved Maine, and especially enjoyed hanging out at Orchard Beach, where the kids got free lobsters from the fishermen if one of the claws was broken. Jeanne always talked about the "East Coast education," she received there, helping make the bright young girl very well spoken and well read, as well. Sadly, her mother died when she was just a teenager, and the family moved back to Muskegon. Shortly after that, she went to live with her uncle Slim and aunt Leah, whose family became her foster family. Following high school, she worked at a soda fountain in Muskegon. Jeanne began casually dating a young man named Jack Poulin, who dared his best friend, George Frick, to ask her on a date. So he did, she accepted, and Jack's loss was George's gain! Their romance blossomed quickly, and they dated just a short time. On November 17, 1937, Jeanne and George were married in Wynn, Michigan, by their friend Rev. Hoover, in his church in Wynn. Those were tough times for many people, especially the newlyweds, and money was very tight for Jeanne and George. During their first summer of marriage, they lived in a tent at the campground at the Ovals, on the Lake Michigan beach in Muskegon, until they could afford an apartment! Soon George found a job at Dow Chemical, so they packed up and moved to Midland. It wasn't long before the husband and wife became father and mother, as well. They enjoyed the birth of their three children F. George, Rosa and Frederick. The country was now embroiled in World War II and George joined the Merchant Marines, serving from 1942-44. During this time Jeanne returned to Muskegon where she drove a bus for the city. Sometimes her children would ride the route with her. When George returned from the Merchant Marines the family moved to Hart, MI. Jeanne worked as a medical assistant for a dentist named Dr. Henry Stevens. She was very bright, with a great work ethic and limitless energy, making her a wonderful employee. In addition to her office job, she also taught first aid for the Red Cross, and sang in the choir at St. Gregory's Catholic Church. In her spare time, she loved playing softball and bowled in leagues, too. She also was a passionate equestrian, part of her East Coast education, she would say. The family had a live-in housekeeper and nanny named Loretta Purdy, who helped take care of the kids, freeing Jeanne to have her career and activities, as well as simply enjoy her family more. Jeanne was an excellent cook, and Rosa fondly remembers taking long Sunday drives together, going to visit relatives or having picnics. After her children had graduated from high school, Jeanne and George moved back to Muskegon, where her husband took a job at Brunswick. Jeanne also continued working, and enjoyed a long career at several doctors' offices in her hometown. Often she took a position to help doctors get their offices up and running, and then moving on to the next one. Over the years she worked for Dr. Lemmen, Dr. Fieber, Dr. Krenz, Dr. Kinsinger, and Dr. Hanley, to name but a few. Jeanne also maintained her active lifestyle outside the workplace, and continued her love of bowling, usually at Maple Lanes. In the early 1970s, George took a job in Toledo, Ohio, and Jeanne worked at more offices there, as well. But George soon developed some health issues, and they moved back to Grand Haven to be closer to their daughter Rosa. The family was always so close, through all their travels, and always spent the holidays and other times together, as well. Never one to sit still, Jeanne continued working at doctor's offices in Grand Haven until she was 70, when she "retired." Of course, even in retirement she kept active, and took many babysitting jobs to keep busy. She also became very active at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where she served as a lector and Eucharistic minister. Jeanne also served as Madam President of the Eagles Auxiliary Aerie 925. Jeanne and George moved into the Shorehaven Nursing Facility in 2003. Her beloved husband died the following year, after 67 wonderful years of marriage. The loss of her husband affected Jeanne, and old age began taking its toll on her, as well. Yet just a week before she sadly died on Friday, October 20, 2006, she and her daughter Rosa went on a fall color tour together. That was Jeanne, though. Always active, always anxious to get out and experience the world's beauty for herself. Jeanne was a woman in constant motion, who taught us that life is a journey, a journey meant to be enjoyed, experienced, and most of all, shared. She will be greatly missed. SURVIVORS: Son, F. George Frick of Allendale; daughter, Rosa Bice of Grand Haven Township; 7 grandchildren, Amy (Mike) Schmidt, Linda Douglas, Jason Bice, Julie Bradley, Rob Frick, Tom Scouten, Jim Scouten; 13 great grandchildren; brother, Arthur Payne of Muskegon. She was preceded in death by her husband, George in 2004; son, Frederick in 1996; brother, Robert Payne; sister-in-law Pauline Payne; foster brother, Thomas Payne; foster sister, Margaret Gustafson. SERVICE: Thursday, October 26, 2006, 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Fr. Bill Langlois officiating. MEMORIAL: Hospice of North Ottawa County or St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.