Adrian, MI – One of Lenawee County’s great philanthropists passed away this holiday weekend. World War II veteran, retired educator, and insurance executive Frank Dick died at the age of 96.
Frank had a long list of accomplishments, including serving his country in the Battle of the Bulge in World War Two, being an integral part of Hospice of Lenawee, and his recent involvement in the new YMCA just north of Adrian…whose building bears his name.
In the later years of his life, Frank often talked about the love of his life… his late wife, Shirley. In a 2018 interview during the ‘Frank and Shirley Dick Legacy Circle Kickoff Event,’ he spoke with WLEN News Director Ian Wendt about their humble beginnings…
Frank Dick’s willingness to give back to the community can be seen throughout Lenawee County, and he touched many lives along the way.
Gleaner Life Insurance Society issued to following statement following the announcement of Dick’s death:
As a philanthropist, educator, veteran and leader, former Gleaner Life Insurance Society President Frank Dick embodied the Society’s ideals. His passing in Adrian, Michigan, Monday, Sept. 5, at age 96 reminded many of the John Wesley quote that Mr. Dick lived out and often repeated: “Do all the good you can.”
“Frank Dick epitomized Gleaner … He is Gleaner! There is no single person in our long and celebrated history that personifies Gleaner quite like Frank Dick,” Gleaner President and CEO Anthony Clark stated. “Frank was our leader and guided the Society in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s to prosperity. He was a husband, father, citizen, veteran, leader, philanthropist, visionary and author. But the one word that best describes Frank is ‘friend.’ The man never met a stranger. We are saddened at his passing, but are gladdened to know that heaven has a new angel.”
Frank Dick was born March 8, 1926, on his parents’ small, 28-acre farm outside Cygnet, Ohio, in a house lit by kerosene lamps and without electricity or running water. The resourcefulness he learned on the farm carried over to his future roles as a World War II soldier wounded after the Battle of the Bulge, the youngest mayor in Ohio, a coach, and as superintendent of several Ohio school districts. A Gleaner member since 1949, he was hired by Gleaner Life in 1978 and appointed President and CEO the following year. He oversaw the Society’s Home Office move to Adrian, Michigan, in 1981, and its embrace of digital technology. When he retired in 2000, Gleaner assets had grown from $39 million when he took office to more than $800 million and quickly moved to $1 billion and beyond.
Frank was married to his school sweetheart Shirley Garns for more than 63 years. Their daughter, Reide Garnett, remembered her father carrying buckets of water to their first house because it had no running water. Together, Frank and Shirley Dick supported dozens of causes including scholarships, hospitals, community foundations, the YMCA, and many more. Frank continued as an ambassador for Gleaner and role model after Shirley passed away in 2010. He remained Gleaner Life’s Chairman Emeritus until he turned 95 and the title was retired.
Founded in 1894, Gleaner Life Insurance Society is a nationally recognized not-for-profit fraternal benefit society.
Visitation for Frank Dick is planned from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Wagley Funeral Home in Adrian, Michigan. His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at First United Methodist Church in Adrian.
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*Some media courtesy of Gleaner Life Insurance Society*