Frank E. Bastian, 91, of Dorr, died Friday, Jan. 8.
Frank followed in his father’s footsteps and spent his entire life on the family farm, which was established by his paternal grandfather in 1861. He attended Sproat School for his elementary education; the land for this school was donated by his maternal great-grandfather.
Frank graduated from Wayland Union High School, attended Grand Rapids Junior College and Ferris State University. He began his career as a mechanic in Byron Center and later at the Salem Co-operative in Dorr. He drove school bus for Dorr before becoming the transportation mechanic and supervisor for Wayland.
He established the automotive mechanics program for Wayland. He left Wayland when the Kent Skills Center opened. Frank taught there for 13 years, then he retired back to the scene of his roots, the family farm in Dorr.
He and and his late wife Marilyn were inducted into the Wayland Union Alumni Hall of Fame and received an award for the Dorr Township Citizen of the Year.
He is survived by daughter Mary; son, Paul Bastian; granddaughter, Rachel Taylor; two great-grandchildren Charlie and Bastian; sister-in-law, Marge Stigers; two nieces, one nephew, and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and C. Adeline Bastian; and his wife of 69 years, Marilyn Stigers Bastian.
Private family services will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home.
The family welcomes memories and messages in their online guestbook at kubiakcookdorr.com
Memorial contributions in Frank’s honor may be made to a local charity of one’s choice.
