Frank W. Deblock

DEBLOCK, FRANK W.
Muskegon
Frank William Deblock, age 82, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, with family at his side.
He was born on June 4, 1942, to Frank and Kathryn (Spahr) Deblock in Fremont, MI. Frank was the oldest of three brothers who grew up in the Whitehall area, later moving to Fremont, MI for his high school years. He joined the U.S. Army in 1962, serving in Alaska as a tank driver in the 2nd Armored Division and reaching the rank of E-5 Specialist. Part of a special unit that tested new cold weather tank technology, he received a letter of commendation for his skills as a tank driver. He was honorably discharged in 1965. When he returned home, he spent his free time racing cars on a dirt track for a variety of team owners in West Michigan. In recent years, he was noted as one of the top 50 race car drivers of all time for the region.
On May 20, 1967, Frank married Terry Lee Lynn at Brunswick Catholic Church. They spent 55 years of marriage in Whitehall and Muskegon, MI, modeling love, commitment, and doing what's right. Frank and Terry raised three boys together. He loved to spend time in the outdoors, hunting and fishing into his mid-70s with his sons. Although on the surface he appeared tough and gruff to many, to his family he was a dedicated and loving father and grandfather who would do anything for the people he cared about. Once you broke through the surface, he loved to talk and tell stories, making friends easily throughout his life and in his final home at Robbinswood Assisted Living Facility in Grand Haven.
Frank began his career in the iron foundry at CWC Textron ("Campbell's"). When those jobs moved to Indiana in the 1980s, he went back to school and retooled his professional life to become a corrections officer. He served in state prisons in Ionia and Manistee, driving long hours each day back and forth to work. Frank was nominated several times as Michigan's Corrections Officer of the Year and he was respected by his colleagues and supervisors alike.
Frank is survived by his three sons, Frank Deblock, Keith (Jessica English) Deblock, and Christopher (Collette) Deblock; three grandchildren, Lindsey, Aidan and Quinn; and his brother Michael "Mike" (Charlene) Deblock. He was preceded in death by his wife, Terry L. (Lynn) Deblock, whom he loved beyond measure, his parents, and his brother Raymond. A Memorial Gathering will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. Share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.