James Allan Frank, 84, of Coldwater, passed away peacefully with his family by his side at LakeHouse Coldwater Assisted Living.
Arrangements are being handled by Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. There will be no services at this time.
Jim was born December 11, 1940 to Jacob and Lucille (Lund) Frank in Mason City, Iowa. September 5, 1959, James married Patricia in Mason City. During their 65 years of marriage, they lived in many states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.
From a young age, Jim had a strong drive to succeed. At just 12 years old, he set sights on a career in broadcasting. He got his start as a janitor at the local radio station, worked his way onto the air, and eventually became part owner and CEO of several stations.
He could be stubborn, especially when he believed in something, but that same determination pushed him forward in every chapter of life. When he was 32, he sold his interest in the radio business and, due to a non-compete clause, shifted gears. He went on to become a building contractor, code enforcer, consultant, and furniture factory owner.
He owned everything from an opera house to a Baskin Robbins ice cream store in these special years.
For the past 26 years, Jim has been best known for FRANK TALK Entertainment Magazine. He and his wife, Pat, poured their hearts into each issue, connecting people to events, businesses, and one another. Together, they also ran FRANK TALK ON THE ROAD, a travel business that combined their love for exploring with their love for people. They made many new friends during these years and cherished all friends – old and new.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Lucille Frank, and his soul mate, Patricia Frank, who passed away in December 2024. Jim is survived by his children: Scott Frank of Catawba Island, OH; Michael (Jennifer) Frank; and Tricia (Richard) Weissmann, both of Coldwater. He is also survived by 3 loving sisters, Beverly Angell, Kathy Jones, and Nancy Rathjen. He was a proud grandfather to Justin, Devin, Kia, Laikin, Olivia, Ethan, Luci, and Trenton, and a great-grandfather to seven. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the wonderful, caring staff at LakeHouse Coldwater Assisted Living and Heartland Hospice, who took amazing care of him and became a second family to him.
In these last couple of years, Jim took great pride in the nonprofit organization started by his granddaughter. To learn more about this mission or to donate in Jim’s honor, in lieu of flowers, please visit waycoffee.org.
As Jim once reflected, “The meaning of life could perhaps best be summed up by thinking of death. Yes, that sounds morbid, but if we all lived our lives in a manner that people will remember us fondly when we pass away, odds are our life will have meaning. Basically, we all need to live a life we can be proud of in life and in death.”
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