Francis Daniel Tardiff, a longtime resident of East Tawas and, in recent years, of Chesterfield, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family. He was born on January 5, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, to Philip and Viola (Peche)Tardiff. He was raised in Detroit and, after graduating from Denby High School, he learned the trade of drafting and detailing at a local “job shop.”
Francis then started at the Fisher Body division of General Motors in Warren as a draftsman. Through hard work and dedication, he advanced to become a production engineer, designing and engineering production lines used to manufacture vehicles. His long and successful career at GM concluded when he retired around 1992.
On October 14, 1950, Francis married the love of his life, Rosemary. They first made their home in Detroit, later moving to Roseville, and, as their family grew, to a larger home in Richmond, Michigan. After his retirement, they found their “dream” home up in East Tawas. They shared 70 years of marriage, raising their family and building a life filled with love, faith, adventure, and cherished memories, until Rosemary’s passing on July 19, 2021.
Family was at the heart of Francis’ life. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, and was often described as having a truly loving soul. He especially enjoyed spending time outdoors, flying remote-control airplanes and taking his boat out on Lake Huron. He and Rosemary also made wonderful memories during their retirement years, camping throughout Michigan, taking the Circle Tour of the Great Lakes, visiting Pictured Rocks, and traveling to Rome and Japan to visit their son, a missionary priest, in his ministry.
Always foundational to Francis was his Catholic faith. In Richmond, he volunteered in various capacities at St. Augustine parish. After moving to East Tawas, he and Rosemary joined Immaculate Heart of Mary where he became a Eucharistic minister and lector and sang in the choir. Following the parish closing, they became members of St. Joseph Parish which later became Holy Family.
Through it all, he remained active in the Knights of Columbus, Right to Life, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Praying the Rosary became his way of interceding for each member of his family.
He had a special fondness for dogs, especially Val, his beloved Shih Tzu who brought him much companionship and joy in his later years.
Francis will be deeply missed by his family and friends, but his loving spirit, strong faith, and the many memories he created with those he loved will remain with them always. He is survived by his children: Dan (Carol), Philip (Donna), Father Mark of PIME, David (Debbie), Ginny (Ivan), Jean (Les), Terri (Charles), and Becky (Roger); 26 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and his sisters, Mary Ann Reuter (Reinhold) and Dorothy.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary; his parents, Philip and Viola; and his siblings: Phil, Becky, Viola, and Kitty.
Visitation for Francis will be held from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM, with a Rosary service at 6:30 PM, on Monday, August 24, 2026 at Kaul Funeral Home, 35201 Garfield Road, Clinton Township, MI 48035. A funeral Mass at 10:00 AM, in-state at 9:30 AM, on Tuesday, August 25, will be at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, 21201 E. 13 Mile Rd, St. Clair Shores, MI 48082.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make contributions in memory of Francis may do so to the P.I.M.E. Missionaries at https://pimeusa.reachapp.co/donations/new or by mail to 27405 West 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336.
