Beaver Island Michigan

Would has been received that Francie Ricksgers passed away last evening. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Ohhh, so sad, such a nice man, always had great visits with him and Anna Marie. He was a genuinely wonderful person! He had a dry but great sense of humor. If I remember the stories correctly my dad was a member of his wedding party. God bless you Francie!!

Visitation will be at Winchester Funeral Home on Tuesday and then Francie will be brought home on the boat on Wednesday. The Funeral Mass will be at Holy Cross Church at 3:00 on Wednesday with burial immediately after at the Holy Cross Cemetery. There will NOT be a luncheon.

Francie was a great man, I remember our family going over to there house on Gallagher street I beleive it was, around Conant and 6 Mile Rd. Anna Marie was always so nice and always had treats and a big smile. Rest in peace.

Francis G. Ricksgers, 91, of East Jordan, died Friday, April 22, 2011, at Grandvue Medical Care Facility in East Jordan. Funeral Mass will be 3:00 pm, Wednesday, April 27, at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Beaver Island. The Reverend James Gardiner will officiate and burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Francis was born November 28, 1919, in Charlevoix, the son of William and Bridgette (Gallagher) Ricksgers. He grew up on Beaver Island and attended school there until eighth grade when he went to work in the saw mills, and help on the family farm. He worked in the CCC camps for many years and on Great Lakes Freighters.

November 20, 1943, he married Anna Marie Sendenburgh on Beaver Island. They moved to Detroit where Francis worked as a carpenter, and at Chrysler, retiring in 1980. After retiring they made their home in East Jordan.

Francis enjoyed woodworking and made beautiful rocking horses. He was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in East Jordan.

Francis is survived by his wife, Anna Marie of East Jordan; children, Donna Jean (Joseph) Gonzalez-Kohn of Shelby Twp., Joseph Anthony (Donna) Ricksgers of Lake Orion, Mary Ann Martinko of Warren, Erma Louise (Steven) Bridges of Rochester Hills, Susan Bridgetta (George) Dobaczewski of Grosse Pointe Woods; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; nephew William (Ricksgers) Lentini of Selby Twp.; niece, Annette (Paul) Wells of Leonard; cousin and caregiver, Marilyn Malpass of East Jordan; many nieces and nephews. Francis' infant son Jude preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 6-8:00 pm, Tuesday, at the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix where the Rosary will be recited at 7:30.

Contributions may be made to Holy Cross Church or Cemetery on Beaver Island. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Anna Marie Ricksgers at PO Box 124, East Jordan, MI 49727.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ricksgers when I was at the Grandvue Nursing home in September 2010 while I was there for my C.E.N.A. classes and training. When I heard he had Beaver Island ties I introduced myself to him. During my 3 weeks there I visited him daily and my instructors allowed me extra time with him so he could reminess about his Beaver Island days. He had wonderful stories to share with me and I really enjoyed my time with him brief as it was. R.I.P. Mr. Ricksgers and thank you for sharing with me.

I think about him almost every time I go by the house he lived in.

So do we.

Jim and Donna