Frank Aloysius Cairns

Nov. 11, 1927 - Nov. 4, 2020 (92)

Frank was born in Sandwich, Ontario, Canada in 1927, the fourth of five children of John and Sarah (O’Connor) Cairns. Frank first attended Assumption Catholic School until the family moved to Detroit. After establishing permanent residence in Detroit he attended St. Charles School and graduated two years early because it was recognized he had a high level of intelligence.

After graduation Frank tried enlisting in the military, but was denied and told to come back when he was 18. He waited one year, lied about his age and served in the Army Air Corps during WWII from 1944-1945 . When the Korean War broke out he served overseas as a First Lieutenant from 1951-1953.

Under the G. I. Bill, Frank first attended the University of Illinois in 1945, then transferred to the University of Detroit where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree in 1950. Additionally, in 1960 he earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Detroit. Frank began working at Chrysler Corporation in 1964 where his career path progressed him to Human Resource Director of Chrysler Corporation. He retired in 1988, but continued working part time at Chrysler as an Immigration Specialist consultant for many years.

Frank married Therese Jaglois on May 9, 1953 and together they raised five children, Robert, Terry (Anne), Mary-Pat, Michael (Rosemary) and Catherine (Aaron). Frank and Therese first resided in a home they built in St. Clair Shores until the family grew in size that required them to move to a larger home in Grosse Pointe Woods. The family enjoyed yearly northern Michigan vacations in Houghton Lake, East Tawas, Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Walloon Lake.

After Therese passed in 2002 and Frank was widowed, he later met Geraldine (Coughlin) and they were wed in 2005 in Florida. Frank and Geri enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends. They wintered in Florida and took cruises in the Caribbean. They also loved to explore new restaurants and join friends for dinner and cards.

After a lengthy battle with heart disease, Frank passed on November 4, 2020. He is survived by his wife Geri, four children, 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Frank was preceded in death by his son Michael who passed in September. He is also preceded in death by his siblings John, Thomas, Patricia and JoAnne.

Friends are invited to attend a celebration of life on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 at 12:00 pm at Our Lady Star of the Sea, 467 Fairford Rd, in Grosse Pointe Woods. In kindness, donations to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.