Frank Joo

Frank William Joo, age 96 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 5:55 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness.  The family offers many thanks to the staff of West Woods for all of the loving care of their beloved Frank.

He was born on September 4, 1920 in South Bend, Indiana to Martin and Julia (Barsodi) Joo, and has lived in this area all of his life.  He served in the United States Army Military Police, and was honorably discharged as a Veteran of World War II.  He was employed at the former Studebaker Corporation plant in South Bend until its closure, and then for seventeen years at National-Standard in Niles, retiring in 1980.

Frank has been a member of both Saint Mark Catholic Church and Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles.  He had also been a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks #1322, and the Buchanan Lodge #449, Loyal Order of Moose.  His family remembers him as a marvelous man who loved golfing, fishing, playing cards, woodworking, maintaining his house and yard, and “all things Notre Dame”.

On February 15, 1947 he married the former Helen Jean Bair who preceded him in death on August 8, 2000.  He was also preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Alex, William, and Michael and their spouses, and a step-son, Kenneth W. Shelby whom Frank treated as a son.

On June 14, 2008 at Saint Mark Catholic Church he married the former Eulalia E. Wetmore who survives.  Also surviving are Eulalia’s children, James J. (& Donna) Shelby of Arkansas, Madeline S. Shelby of South Bend, Barbara A. Shelby of New Haven, Indiana, Joan M. (& Dale, a.k.a. “Brother”) Norman of Cassopolis, Michigan and Jean A. (& John U.) Charron of Florence, Arizona; grandchildren Gregory, Jeannette, Selena, Catrina, Steven, Nathan, Kevin, Darrell, Timothy, Trisha, Amber, Shawna, Kyle, and Danielle; great-grandchildren Brenden, Kendra, Angela, Austin, Addison, Allison, Madison, Michael, Cameron, Daryl III, Annalee, Zia, Elan, Cleo, Brayden, Alexander, Chase, and Colton; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins including Richard (& Penny) Joo, Robert (& Nancy) Joo, and Marilyn Molnar.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Frank Joo will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at Saint Mark Catholic Church by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., assisted by Brother Dennis Meyers, C.S.C.  The Mass will be followed – outside the church – by Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan.  Committal Rites will be private, at a later date, at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m.  Contributions in memory of Frank may be made to the Wetmore Student Scholarship Fund at Saint Mary’s School, or to Saint Mark Catholic Church.