Frank L. Malette, Jr.

Born January 10, 1969, in Marquette, the son of Frank and Violet (Cummings) Malette, Sr., Frankie was raised in Beaver Grove and graduated from Marquette Senior High School, Class of 1988. During his high school years, he enjoyed classes in woodshop and, later in life, was a talented carpenter.

Following graduation, he was employed by the Ford Garage, washing cars and doing undercoating, and later operated a cable skidder for Heidtman Logging. In 1997, Frankie began a long career with the railroad industry, working first for the Canadian National Railroad as an on the road laborer. He later worked at the Escanaba ore dock, serving as foreman and operator. Wishing to be closer to home, he worked for a time in Little Lake before working again in Escanaba. In 2014, he fell at home which left him disabled and unable to work. For most of his life, Frankie could be found outdoors. His passion was hunting and his schedule ran from September 15th to January 1st, every year. He bagged his first deer at age 12 and the thrill of the hunt remained for the rest of his life. As a young father, he and his daughter enrolled in both the youth and adult bow hunting classes, enjoying the benefits of that decision when Mackenzie bagged her first deer in September 2014, a month before his accident. Frankie enjoyed nothing better than sharing his enjoyments in life with the loves of his life, his wife and daughters. He loved taking his gals to the camp near McFarland on weekends, taking them fishing, and any other time spent with family and best friends. Quiet, sensitive, and caring, Frankie could be depended upon to lend a hand where needed. He was mechanically inclined and loved to tinker, doing welding at home, building flatbeds on trucks, constructing deer blinds, and building things for his girls. What he didn’t know about, he quickly learned and became a person you called when something needed fixing. He loved dogs and for many years trained hunting dogs. Frankie was a member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey, the Gwinn Buckskin Bowmen Archery Club, Whitetails Unlimited, Negaunee Eagles Club, and “once a Boy Scout, always a Boy Scout”.

Described by his family as the perfect husband, dad, son, and brother, he is survived by his wife, Penny (Martineau) Malette, whom he married March 26, 2002; his daughters, Alli Rose and Mackenzie Violet; his father, Frank (Patricia) Malette, Sr of Chocolay Township; a sister, Deborah (Dale) Anders of Gwinn; mother-in-law, Leona (Doug Cox) Lawry of Ishpeming; many in-laws; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins, among them a special, especially close aunt, Karen (Dennie) Hayes of Marquette.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Violet.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey on Saturday, November 18, beginning at 9:00 am until the time of the Funeral Liturgy at 10:00 am. Rev. Glenn Theoret, pastor, will officiate.

Honorary escorts will be Don Houle, Scott Shimon, Jaime Albright, and Pat Dollar. A Celebration of Life and reception will follow at the Negaunee Eagles beginning at 12:00 noon Saturday. Entombment will be made at the Northland Chapel Gardens Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

The Fassbender Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderfuneralhome.com