Phyllis Fransen

Every once in a while, one encounters an individual whose life was filled with so much love and joy that it is evident this person lived a life that was truly blessed. Phyllis Fransen was one of these people. She spent many years giving and receiving love. A cherished wife, mother and grandmother, Phyllis lived her life with an open heart and a giving spirit. The 1930s are a notoriously frightening time in the United States history. After the collapse of the stock market in 1929, the U.S. found itself facing a time of great change and hardships, but also a time that built strength and perseverance. With Herbert Hoover in the White House, Babe Ruth wowing the world on the baseball field, and Mickey Mouse making his first appearance in comic strips, this was a time of many beginnings. On the southern shore of Lake Superior in Munising, Michigan, Alfred and Lillian (Bryson) Fournier were preparing their home for the beginning of a new life. On February 16, 1930, the couple welcomed their seventh child, daughter Phyllis Marie, into the world. Phyllis grew up in a loving home surrounded by her parents and eight siblings: Robert, Pat, Jim, Alice, Betty, Ruth, Ann and Kathleen. While her mother was a busy homemaker, her father earned a living working in the Civil Conservation Camps in Munising. Her parents both loved music and dancing and taking leisure rides with the family in their Model A. As a child, Phyllis loved to ice skate on Munising Bay in the wintertime, and watch the fishing boats come in with hopes of getting some fresh fish from them to take home. Just for kicks, she and her brothers and sisters would often dare one another to chase bears too! Phyllis was a freshman in high school when her father got a job in the Lakey Foundry, which led to the family moving to Muskegon. Here, Phyllis found other activities she loved, like roller-skating, dancing and going to the movies with her little sister, Kathleen. A very strong-minded young lady, Phyllis decided to leave school before graduating in order to work full-time. She, in fact, worked two jobs, at The Hour and N movie theaters. In early 1950, a wonderful thing happened to Phyllis she met the love of her life, Walter Fransen. Her brother was serving in the Navy during the war, and came home one day with his friend, Walter. He and Phyllis hit it off from their first encounter, and they began taking turns traveling back and forth between Grand Rapids and Muskegon to see each other. Hopelessly in love, the two were happily married after six months of courtship on June 30, 1950. After a honeymoon to Alpena to visit Phylliss brother, Bob, the newlyweds settled into married life together in Grand Rapids, Michigan and later in life moved to Scottville, Michigan. Here, they enjoyed the company of their neighbors and playing cards together. Phyllis and Walter were blessed with two wonderful children: Betty and Ed. Because Walters work in construction took him away from home quite a bit, sometimes months at a time, Phyllis pretty much raised the children on her own. Although she worked as a welder for 34 years at Smith Industries after her children were born, Phylliss main occupation for many years was taking care of her family. She loved being a mother, and took great joy in raising her kids, though doing it alone proved to be a tough task as times. Walter admired Phyllis for being a wonderful mom and devoted wife under these circumstances. When Walter was home, they enjoyed nothing more than just spending time together as a family, making many happy memories that continue to be cherished. When the children were older, Phyllis turned her attention to making crafts, which she found she loved. She enjoyed painting and knitting, though her favorite craft was making beaded goose eggs, which was very meticulous and tedious work. She loved doing this well into her later years, even when her eyesight was failing. To get ideas for new projects, Phyllis would visit area craft shows. As a couple, she and Walter enjoyed time together, playing cards and games. After retiring, they began traveling more, visiting every state in the U.S. and taking a memorable trip overseas to Sweden. Phyllis was also a big wine tasting fan, and enjoyed several trips to vineyards throughout the area. Always close to her family, Phyllis loved to visit her sister, Kathleen, in Muskegon, who eventually came to live with her for the last five months of her life. Phyllis was a longtime member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. For a while, Phyllis suffered with congestive heart failure and Macular Degeneration. On Saturday, September 26, 2009, surrounded by her family and friends, Phyllis peacefully went home to be with her Heavenly Father. Although she will be deeply missed, her legacy of love and dedication leaves her loved ones with wonderful memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort. Phyllis is survived by her husband, Walter; son, Ed (Vickie) Fransen of Grand Rapids; daughter, Betty (Jack) Allen of TX; 3 grandchildren, Justin, Jessica, Hannah; sisters, Ann Hiatt of CA, Kathleen (Kirby) Warden of Muskegon; and brother, Robert (Claire) Fournier of Alpena. Services for Phyllis will be held on Wednesday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with Fr. Aaron Ferris officiating. Visitation is on Tuesday, September 29, from 5-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church - Food Pantry or Low Vision Group, Scottville, MI. Please visit Phylliss personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com where you may share a memory with her family or sign her online guest book.