Frank D Wilberding

Mr. Wilberding was born in 1920 in Detroit’s St. Rose parish. He attended U of D High School and the University of Notre Dame, until World War II when he served in the U. S. Army in Hawaii and Saipan. After the war he sold real estate in Grosse Pointe, then started his own home building company there in 1950. During the next twenty five years, he helped design and built many of Grosse Pointe’s finest homes, over one hundred homes in all. He was involved in subdividing several Lake Shore estates into custom home communities. He spent another twenty years developing commercial projects and residential condominiums in Macomb County Michigan, Aspen Colorado, and Stuart Florida. His board responsibilities included many years as a Director of Detroit Federal Savings.

Mr Wilberding’s homes came to be known as ‘Wilberding homes’ because of the high quality that precluded a need for service calls. When asked about his priority for quality, he stated that he did not want to get calls at night that would hinder his ability to be at home with his family. Accordingly, he presided over dinner each night at 6 PM with his growing family no matter how busy. This core value of ‘family first’ has been celebrated each year with an annual family reunion at Pointe Aux Barques. This summer for the thirtieth consecutive year more than thirty children, spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren will gather to celebrate this tradition in his and his late wife Donna’s honor.

Mr. Wilberding was a valued friend and companion with a great sense of humor who has been described by many as a consummate gentleman. He was an active sportsman…an avid golfer, tennis player, and downhill skier. He was a member of the DAC and a lifetime member of the Country Club of Detroit. He was longtime benefactor of Bon Secours Hospital, St. Paul Church Grosse Pointe, and the University of Notre Dame.

Mr. Wilberding lost his loving wife of 68 years, Donna Wilberding (Touscany); when she died January 7, 2011 in Florida. He is survived by six children: Karen (John) Diefenbach of San Francisco, California; Frank (Beth) Wilberding, Jr. of Chicago, Illinois; Thomas (Barbara) Wilberding of Denver, Colorado,; Mary (J. Hobart) Wilberding of Los Angeles, California; Daniel (Elizabeth) Wilberding of Stuart, Florida; John Wilberding of Rochester Hills, Michigan. Survived also by nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Predeceased by his brother Edward Wilberding of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; and Marion (Gordon) MacKenzie of Naples, Florida.

There will be a funeral mass on April 23 at 10 AM at St Paul Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. Internment at St Paul columbarium. Reception to follow.