Carl Franzon

Carl Gunnar Franzon, 79, of Sawyer went home to be with his Lord on January 9, 2013.

A funeral service will be held Monday, January 14, 2013 at 11 AM, at Harbert Community Church, 6444 Harbert Road, Harbert, with Pastor Kyle J.A. Small officiating. Friends may meet with the family on Sunday, January 13 from 2 - 5 PM at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman. Memorial contributions may be made to Harbert Community Church, PO Box 197, Harbert, Michigan 49115 or Chikaming Township Fire Department, PO Box 40, Harbert, Michigan 49115. Online condolences accepted at www.PikeFH.com.

Carl was born November 18, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois the son of the late Axel and Ruth (Johanssen) Franzon. The family moved to Sawyer, Michigan where Axel opened Franzon’s Shell in 1950. After graduating from New Troy High School and a tour in the Army, Carl returned to Sawyer to work with his father. In 1965 Carl married Barbara Krieger and they settled in the Sawyer area. Carl worked for his father until he passed and Carl took over as owner and operator of Franzon’s Shell. It was at Franzon’s that many people got to know Carl, whether getting their gas pumped and windows washed or the many regular customers and travelers along the way whose cars he got back on the road. A number of young men got their start working for Carl, and a number of older men were kept going by the pot of coffee he always had brewing. Carl served for many years on the Chikaming Fire Department and his little blue Bronco racing to fires was a familiar sight in the community. Carl was a long-time member of Harbert Community Church.

Survivors include his wife Barbara; daughter - Kathy (David) Lane of Point, Texas, sons - Robert (Maureen) Stanage of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Russell Stanage of Bridgman, Carl (Christine) Franzon of Cheboygan, daughter - Sandra (Scott) MacMartin of Bridgman; 12 grandchildren - Ian, Jessica, Jeremiah, Jasmine, Nathan, Lisbeth, Aurora, Carlina, Christiana, Axel, Kody, Alec; great grandchildren - Alexis, Isabella, Destiny, Michael, Kalynne, Samantha, Hailynn, Braxton; sister - Gunnel (Jim) Brunsell; and sister-in-law - Nancy.

Carl was preceded in death by his father Axel, his mother Ruth, and a brother Axel (Ingvar).

Visitation

2-5 PM ,Sunday, January 13, 2013
Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel
9191 Red Arrow Hwy Bridgman, MI 49106

Funeral Service

11 AM ,Monday, January 14, 2013
Harbert Community Church
6444 Harbert Road Harbert, MI 49115