Frank P. Branz, 86, WWII Veteran, and enjoyed fishing, cooking, and traveling to Nevada
Frank P. Branz, age 86, of Lorain, died Friday December 27, 2002 at the New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph following an extended illness. He was born January 24, 1916 in Freeland, Pennsylvania and had been a resident of Lorain for the past 56 years.Mr. Branz was a World War II Veteran serving with the United States Army; he was attached to the Headquarters Company Maintenance Battalion-2nd Armored Division. He saw extensive service in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes, and Central Europe. He was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, and the European-African-MiddleEastern Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars.
For twenty years he served as the proprietor of Frank's Sohio Station who was formerly located at the intersection of East 28th Street and Broadway. In November of 1965 he founded the A to Z Rental Center; the name of the company was changed to All Service Rental Center in the early 1970's. Mr. Branz retired from the day-today operation of the firm in 1981.
A parishioner of the Catholic Church of St. Peter, he was a member of Italian-American Veterans Post #1 (Lorain), Louis Paul Proy Chapter # 20 of the Disabled American Veterans, Knights of Columbus Council # 637 (Lorain), the American-Italian Club of Phoenix, Arizona, and the Sun City (Arizona) Bocci Club.
He enjoyed fishing, cooking, and travel to both Las Vegas, and Laughlin, Nevada.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years: Tina (nee Terrizzi), daughters: Lynda J. Dolezal of Vermilion, and Marian Branz-Cormier of Denver, Colorado: Charles and Robert both of Brownhlem Township and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents: Henry and Maria (nee Piazza) Branz, brothers: William "Willy", and Joseph Branz, as well as sisters: Angeline Dona and Anna Branz.
Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 pm in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain, where a memorial service will be conducted by officers and members of the Italian-American Veterans Post # 1. Funeral Services will be Friday, January 3, 2003 beginning at 9:30 am in the funeral chapel and will be followed by a funeral mass a 10:00 am in the Catholic Church of St. Peter, 3501 Oberlin Avenue, Lorain. The Reverend Kenneth Wolnowski, pastor of the church will officiate. Members and officers of Italian-American Veterans Post # 1 will conduct military honors immediately following the church service. Private burial will be at a later date.
The family suggests memorials in Mr. Branz's memory to either: the St. Peter Parish Endowment Fund, 3501 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, Ohio 44053, to the St. Mary Church (Vermilion) Endowment Fund, 731 Exchange Street, Vermilion, Ohio 44089, or the New Life Hospice, 5255 North Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035.