Frank Saglimbene

Frank Saglimbene, 89, completed his earthly journey early in the afternoon of Good Friday, March 30, 2018. His daughter Becky, his brother Sam, and an ever expansive company of nieces and nephews remain to remember him. After visiting him before his passing, one of his nieces said of him, "He has been like a father to me." Another niece remembers how thoughtful and appreciative Frank was of her father and how supportive he was of her honoring her father's legacy even in the past ten months when he was emersed in the shadows of his own terrible loss. His nephews remember what an enthusiastic outdoorsman Frank was when they were growing up- "a lover of nature" as one of them expressed it. The times they spent with Uncle Frank in those days were good times. Three brothers preceded Frank in death; Pete, Phil and Dominic. 

Frank married Sally Sharpe on January 30, 1952 in Niagara Falls, Canada, and together they created a secure and very satisfactory life for themselves. He said of Sally after her death on October 3, 2017, "I love her more than life, she was everything." Frank and Sally dealt with real estate, buying and selling several properties and building two residences in the Houghton Lake area, one of which became their final home. Frank spoke with great pride about Sally's "designing" that final home with him. 

Frank and Sally lived in Florida and traveled the Caribbean with their daughter Becky before finally being drawn to the Houghton Lake area where Frank's father had had "a little place" years earlier and where Frank's boyhood best friend from back in Detroit had relocated. 

Like St. Francis, whose name he shared, Frank always had an abiding love for animals and enjoyed the companionship of many dogs during the course of his life. It was said that St. Francis spoke to the birds. Well Frank built them houses that found a place in the brothers' and nephews' yards. 

Frank was a man in the best sense of the word, a strong person, a person to be reckoned with, whose heart could shelter a concern for the welfare of animals and a deep thirst for justice regarding the intense poverty he had witnessed in his travels. He spoke of these concerns with a niece during the final autumn of his life. Frank also spoke of his "struggle with faith" as he put it. Just before his passing-in the presence of his daughter and two true friends- he would pray the essential prayer- asking Jesus to come into his heart. This is a consolation for those who love him and will feel his absence in their lives keenly. 

A private graveside service will be held at Denton Township Cemetery in Prudenville. You may express your condolences to the family at www.christler-holdship.com Christler Funeral Home-Prudenville Chapel is handling the arrangements. 

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