Francis’ Obituary Francis “Franc” John Bartus died on May 5th, 2019 at Angela Hospice in Livonia, MI after a battle with cancer. Husband of Beulah Jean Bartus, father to Noelle Fox (Jim), Francis (Elise Bergerson), and Jacob, grandfather to Sidney Fox. Brother to Richard (Kathy), Joe (Mary), John (Sharon), Jerome (Cheryl), and Marie Ciavarro (Frank).
He was born in Detroit to Julia and Edmund Bartus in 1951. He met Beulah “Jean” Mullins and they married on December 4th, 1976. They welcomed their first-born, Noelle and golden retriever, Sandy and subsequently moved to Westland.
Later they settled in Farmington Hills where their growing family expanded to include Francis and Jacob. Along the way they adopted another golden retriever puppy, Taffy. Franc worked as a District Manager at the Detroit Free Press for over 20 years until the strike in 1995.
A member of the Teamsters local 372, Franc picketed with the union, distributed the striker’s alternative newspaper (Detroit Sunday Journal) and refused to cross the picket line, taking early retirement and starting a new chapter. After a stint working for a construction company, he took a sales job at a Ford dealership; for the remainder of his career he worked at Tom Holzer, North Brothers, and Jack Demmer Ford. In his personal life, Franc took immense pleasure and pride in working on his home.
When he moved with his family to Farmington Hills, he bought a lot and proceeded to obtain his contractors license, working alongside the builder to construct the family’s ranch home. After retiring in 2015, he focused his time and energy learning woodworking techniques, completing projects around the house, reading history books, and foremost, spending time with his children, wife, and grandson. Franc practiced tremendous discipline and self-sacrifice throughout his life, always putting his family’s needs ahead of his own.
His attention to detail, demonstrated via the immaculate care for his cars, home, and landscaping, is legendary. He often took pleasure in watching the Pistons game while sipping a Coke and smoking a cigarette in his kitchen. Though his children each rebelled against his parental authority in their own ways, he never indulged in being domineering, rather shaking his head in bemusement at the sartorial and avocational choices that he would have never made for himself.
His deep and abiding love for his wife was evident throughout his entire life as they supported each other through the loss of their parents and his eventual struggle with cancer. His foremost characteristic was his toughness, through which he bore unimaginable pain with grace until the very end. He will be sorely missed.
Visitation at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home 33603 Grand River Ave. Farmington. 2-8pm with a scripture service at 7pm Thursday, May 9th.
Memorial Mass 10:00am Friday at Our Lady of Sorrows, 23815 Power Road. Farmington. Memorial donations suggested to American Cancer Society.
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