CASSOPOLIS – Frank Fred Burmeister, 90, of Cassopolis, passed away Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at 11:14 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, after an illness.

He was born Nov, 28, 1918, in Chicago, Ill., the son of William Clarence and Mary Lucille (Stephenson) Burmeister.

He was a lifetime Cassopolis resident.

Frank married Frances May Thompson Aug. 24, 1940, in Vandalia.

His wife survives, along with: two children, Judith May Hahn of Cassopolis and Dennis Frank Burmeister of Dowagiac; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and two sisters, Geraldine Burmeister of Cassopolis and Diane Jones of Milwaukee, Wis.

Preceding Frank in death were his parents and several brothers and sisters.
Frank retired in 1958 as a U.S. rural mail carrier. He previously worked at Connelly Funeral Home and then as a Cass County deputy sheriff for 10 years.

Frank had been a life member of the former Backus Lodge 55, F&AM, Cassopolis, and was currently a 32nd-degree Mason with Peninsular Lodge 10, F&AM, Dowagiac, a member of the Saladin Shriners, Grand Rapids, the Lodge Council Chapter Consistory Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Grand Rapids and he was a member of the William E. Lozier VFW Post 10704, Cassopolis.

Frank had been a proud member of the U.S. Army, serving in World War II.
He was a lifelong avid sports fan, always supporting his local Cassopolis teams.
A funeral service will be Thursday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m. at Connelly Funeral Home, Cassopolis.

Officiating will be the Rev. Larry Settle, retired pastor of Pleasant View Church of Christ, Cassopolis.

Interment will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Cassopolis.

Graveside military honors will be rendered by members of his VFW post and of Efton James American Legion Post 206, both of Cassopolis.

Friends may call Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home, where a Masonic candlelight service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. by Peninsular Lodge 10, F&AM, Dowagiac.

Memorials in Frank’s name may be made to the Cass County Council on Aging, Cassopolis.