Jeffrey G. Frank, of Dexter, Michigan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, died on May 6, 2026 at the Chelsea Retirement Community Towsley Village, hours before what would have been his 83rd birthday.
He was born in Ann Arbor on May 7, 1943, to George and Jean (Robinson) Frank. Jeff and his wife, Mary Jo (Staples), met while working at The Ann Arbor News. They were married at Dixboro United Methodist Church in 1972 and have lived in the Dexter area since 1980.
Jeff was very proud of his sons Chris and Jason and grandchildren Abby and Ben, and cherished times spent cheering them on in their athletic and drama endeavors and celebrating birthdays and holidays.
A University of Michigan alum and journalist, Jeff worked at The Ann Arbor News for 34 years. He started as a general assignment reporter and editor and retired as operations director in 2002.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1966, Jeff worked at the Grand Haven Tribune, where he covered city council and school board meetings, took photographs, and reported on local news. His week began on Sunday night, when he turned on the heat for the lead pots that supplied molten metal to the paper’s Linotype typesetting machines.
Jeff grew up within blocks of The Big House. He returned to Ann Arbor in 1968 and worked as a general assignment reporter and copy editor and later as assistant city editor at The News. As news editor, Jeff designed more than 2,800 front pages between 1977 and 1989.
In an October 1986 Ann Arbor Observer article titled Jeff Frank’s Front Page, writer Craig T. Smith wrote: “Jeff Frank, forty-three years old, is like Clark Kent, a mild-mannered newspaperman whose best efforts occur anonymously. Although his job requires him to give orders, he never lets deadlines destroy his good manners.” He was known for faithfully greeting colleagues with “Good morning” before discussing the editors’ assignments.
In 1989, Jeff was promoted to operations director, where he was responsible for all production, including the pressroom, the mailroom, page production, typesetting, composing of display and classified advertising and photograph reproduction. He also worked on the planning, construction, and startup of The News Printing and Packaging Center off South State Street.
An avid bird watcher and skilled woodworker, Jeff made bird houses, tea and jewelry boxes, quilt racks, and platform beds. He also enjoyed working out at the Dexter Wellness Center, reading, hiking, cross-country skiing, fly fishing on Michigan’s AuSable and Pigeon rivers, and flying into northern Canada with his sons and friends to fish for walleye. Mexico, Ludington and Port Angeles, Washington, were among his favorite destinations. He was active in the Dexter United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee, head usher, and worked on construction teams that rehabbed homes at Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. Jeff also volunteered at the Ann Arbor Historical Society, Dexter District Library, and Faith in Action.
Jeff is survived by Mary Jo, Chris (Jennifer Richards) of Ann Arbor and Jason (Lucia Baez Carrera) of Houston, Texas; grandchildren Abby and Ben; brother Rusty (Kathi) of Onsted; brother-in-law John Staples (Joanne Cwiklinski); and cousins Jay (Nancy) Lodwick of Novi and Richard (Sharon) Lodwick of Vacaville, California. He was preceded in death by his parents and cousin Peter Lodwick.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026 at the Chelsea First United Methodist Church, 128 Park St., with the Rev. Joy Barrett officiating. Visitation will take place in the church sanctuary from 10:00-11:00 a.m., and refreshments will be served in the church’s social hall after the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending memorial contributions to the Dexter District Library, Food Gatherers, or your favorite charity.
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
