Dr. Armin T Franke M.D.

Dr. Armin T. Franke, M.D. of Fort Gratiot, MI, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 23, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.

Armin was born October 16, 1923 in Newton, Kansas to the Reverend Theodore and Lydia (Keller) Franke. His childhood saw him live in several locations throughout the Midwest, finally graduating high school in Grand Rapids, MI. He continued with his education, earning a B.S. degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids and in 1948 a M.D. Degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Afterwards, Armin started a residency at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN where he met the love of his live, Rosalie Grivest. They were married January 14, 1950 in Hillsdale, MI where he established a general practice. In 1951 Armin joined the U.S. Medical Corps, serving in Austria from 1951-1953.

In 1953 after he completed his service, he started a residency in internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He had fond memories of his residency there, especially when he was asked to give the initial check up to a very young ballplayer named Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers.

In 1956 Armin and Rosalie moved to Port Huron where he started his practice of internal medicine and raising a family.

Armin practiced medicine until his retirement in 1995. During that span he was a board member and diplomat to several organizations in the State of Michigan as well as St. Clair County and the City of Port Huron. He was also a past president of the St. Clair Medical Society as well as Chief of Medical Staff at Port Huron Hospital and Mercy Hospital. One of his major accomplishments was his work in 1964 as the director of “Operation Sugar Cube,” which was an eight-week project during which 64,000 St. Clair County residents received the Trivalent oral polio vaccine. At his retirement in 1995 he was asked to assist in the organization of the People’s Clinic. He worked regularly at the clinic for five years.

Armin enjoyed outdoor activities with his family including hiking, canoeing, sailing, birding and gardening. He was also fluent in playing many instruments, especially the piano and organ and would play the Boogie Woogie to his family and all who would ask. He was fond of music from Bach to Dixieland, from big band to Ragtime.

He is survived by his son, Martin (Yolanda Pittman) Franke of Chandler, AZ; daughter, Janet (Mark) Behrendt of Howell, MI; and granddaughters, Erin Behrendt and Hanna (Tim) Bergsma. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie and a brother, Martin C. Franke of Oregon.

Private family graveside services will be held in Lakeside Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted under the auspices of the St. Clair County Allied Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Port Huron Museum. Arrangements are by Pollock-Randall Funeral Home. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com