Richard Frantz

SIDNEY — Richard J. "Dick" Frantz, 88, 2260 Wells Dr., Sidney, passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 4, 1927 in Piqua, Ohio, the son of the late Roy and Helen (Edwards) Frantz. On June 24,1950, he married Harriet J. (Simon) Frantz, who preceded him in death, at Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Newport, Ohio.

Together they had 13 children, 38 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Their children include Michael & Julie (Brunetto) (Avon Lake), Michele & David Leistner (Sidney), Peter & Gail (Klemencic) (Sidney), Richard (Rock) & Gail (Piening) (Sidney), John & Julia (Morris) (Sidney), Jeffrey & Kim (Haman) (Fairborn), Thomas & Joyce (Hoying) (Sidney), Luke & Paula (McDowell) (Valrico, FL), Julia & Jeff Maurer (Troy), Nick & Marcia (Magoto) (Sidney), Beth & Bill Flanigan (Cincinnati), Aimee & Marc Cain (Ashville), and Ruth Perry (Ashville). Also surviving is a sister Sally Jo Gasson & brother-in-law Orville Borchers.

Dick was preceded in death by sister: Damaris (Dedee) Frantz, brother & sister-in-law Jacque & Lucille Frantz, sisters/brothers in-law: Amelia & Carl Francis; Evelyn & Lester Littman; Marlene Borchers; and one grandchild, Sean Christine Perry.

Dick served his country as a US Navy Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Wildcat in the Pacific Theater during WWII. After the war, he attended Tri-State University graduating with a Civil Engineering degree. There he was a member of Phi Kappa Theta (Phi Kappa) fraternity and was among the first class to receive the Distinguished Order of the Engineer in the US. He was a registered Professional Engineer with the State of Ohio for the past 60 years.

Dick was an accomplished businessman serving as President of Frantz Brothers Inc., which he owned with his mother Helen, and brother Jacque. He was widely recognized for his expertise in the highway industry and was directly responsible for over 400 bridge structures and various portions of the US interstate system in Ohio. Over the years, he provided employment for a multitude of people throughout the community. Dick was President and Director of the Midwestern Chapter of Professional Engineers; served on the Ohio Contractors' Association (OCA) and the American Road Builders Association; and in 1991, Dick was elected into the Ohio Contractor's Hall of Fame, joining his mother and grandfather, John Frantz, as a member of the Hall of Fame.

Dick was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church, serving as one of the first Eucharistic ministers of the parish and a member of the Knights of Columbus #659. He was an active member of several fraternal organizations including the Moose, Elks, & American Legion. He served as Sidney Shelby County Chamber of Commerce President, Wilson Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, Loramie Banking Company, Holy Angels Parish Council President, and the Lehman Catholic High School Foundation Board. Dick was highly active in numerous local organizations such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and the Sidney Chapter of Rotary International. He was elected into the Lehman Catholic High School Hall of Fame in 2007.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sidney celebrated by Rev. Frank Amberger.

Burial with Military Honors by the Sidney American Legion Post #217 will be at Graceland Cemetery in Sidney, Ohio. Friends may call Sunday 1-6 p.m. and Monday 9-10 a.m. at Cromes Funeral Home, 302 S. Main Ave., Sidney, Ohio. There will be a Knights of Columbus Memorial Service at 5:45 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to The Richard & Harriet Frantz Scholarship for Lehman Catholic High School or to the Holy Angels Catholic Church. Condolences may be expressed to the Frantz family at our website, www.cromesfh.com.