Frank Nagy

Frank Nagy, 78, of Norton Shores and formerly of Grand Haven, Michigan, died Monday, August 22, 2016, following a 5-year battle with cancer. He was born May 20, 1938, in Melvindale, Michigan, to Frank and Sophia (Schwarzbach) Nagy and grew up in Allen Park. Upon graduation from Melvindale High School in 1956, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged in 1958 with the rank of sergeant.

In December, 1956, he married Janet Ann Sutton, with whom he raised two children and shared 28 years of marriage and homes in Melvindale, Allen Park and Grand Haven. They divorced in 1984 and remained good friends.

On August 2, 1986, he married Betty (Kaemingk) Stob in Grand Haven, and they shared 15 years of marriage, together enjoying professional careers, worldwide travel, their combined five children and, eventually, 14 grandchildren before her sudden and untimely death in 2001.

Frank was the first of his family to attend college, earning an associates degree from Henry Ford Community College, bachelor of science in business administration and master of business administration degrees from Grand Valley State University.

His 40-year career in manufacturing management included supervisory positions at Ford Motor Company and General Motors in Detroit. In 1972 he moved his family from Allen Park to Grand Haven when he became manufacturing manager of Gardner Denver. In 1980 he joined Grand Haven Stamped Products (now GHSP) as director of manufacturing, became vice-president of manufacturing in 1981, and had served as president of GHSP for many years when, in 1998, he left to become president of Cascade Engineering in Grand Rapids. When he retired in 1999, he founded a consultancy, Strategic  Insights, through which he shared his knowledge of lean manufacturing with companies of all types and sizes; and he taught courses in lean manufacturing at Aquinas College and Grand Valley State University’s Seidman School of Business. He served as Chairman of the Board of North Ottawa Community Health System and was appointed interim CEO 2006-7. He served his community in many ways, including as a trustee of the Grand Haven Board of Education, a member of Rotary International, chairman of the board of Tri-Cities United Way, trustee of Grand Haven Schools Foundation, a volunteer at Supper House in Muskegon Heights,  and a board member of Family Promise of Muskegon.

A longtime member of the United Methodist Church, Frank worshiped at Temple United Methodist Church in Muskegon Heights; yet, after his wife’s death he embarked on a faith journey that led to his becoming a Dominican Lay Associate through the Dominican Sisters of Marywood in Grand Rapids. He credited his Dominican spirituality with giving him the strength to fight his illness and, eventually, to surrender. He was wise, funny, faithful, loving, gifted, generous, strong and true; and he will be deeply missed.

Left to cherish Frank’s memory are his daughter, Kim S. Nagy, of Jenison, and her children Kathryn and David Carlisle; his son and hunting buddy Dr. Frank D. (Janine) Nagy of Clinton Twp., Michigan, and their daughters Alexia Jane and Julianna; stepson David Stob of Seattle, Washington,  and his children Jonathan (Ann) Stob and Renee; also special “daughter” Kristi Stob; stepdaughter Sharon (John) Ross of Saranac, Michigan, and their children Sara (Adam) Nelson, Rachel Smith, Brandon (Jessamy) Ross, Amber (Russ) VanderVelde, Alicia Ross and Alexander Ross; stepdaughter Judy (Andrew) Breuker and their daughters Crystal (Ken) Van Dyken and Laura Beth (Curt) Essenburg; 13 great grandchildren; his sisters RoseMary Hiner and Kathleen Jernigan of St. Helen, Michigan, and Louann (Henry) Werksma of Grand Haven, and many nieces and nephews who loved and admired their Uncle Frank. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Betty, sister Ellen Jean Couch of Lincoln Park, Michigan, and her husband, Charles J. Couch, and brother-in-law Donald S. Jernigan of St. Helen, Michigan.

The funeral service for Frank will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, August 26, 2016 at Temple United Methodist Church 2500 Jefferson Street, Muskegon with Pastor Jeffrey Bowman officiating. Full Military Honors will be performed by the American Legion Post #9 Muskegon. Interment will be in Lake Forest Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5 – 8 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Klaassen Family Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple United Methodist Church. Please visit www.klaassenfuneralhome.com to sign Frank’s online guest book. Arrangements by Klaassen Family Funeral Home.