Frank G. Taelman Jr

Frank G. Taelman Jr., 89, of Granger, IN passed away in Memorial Hospital on September 20 after a brief illness.

Frank was born in South Bend on March 11, 1933 to Frank G. Sr., and Lillian (Wiatrolik) Taelman. After graduating from South Bend Central High School in 1951, Frank attended Purdue University. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at Purdue and members of his pledge class became lifelong friends. In 1953, Frank enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at naval air bases in Texas, Hawaii and the Philippines. He was part of a flight crew that flew early warning recon missions in the Pacific.

While back in South Bend on leave, Frank met and began dating Catherine Wilhelm. Frank and Cathie married on September 7, 1957, and recently celebrated their 65th anniversary. After being discharged from the Navy, Frank spent a short time as an air traffic controller in Indianapolis.

Frank and Cathie moved back to South Bend at the end of 1957 and Frank began his career in the insurance industry as an inspector for the Indiana Rating Bureau. Their two sons, Chris and Jim, were born in South Bend, and the family moved to Indianapolis in 1968 when Frank received a job promotion with the Rating Bureau, which is now known as Verisk. He retired as branch manager of Verisk’s Indiana operations in 1995.

Frank and Cathie moved back to the South Bend area in 1998 to be closer to family and friends, and to make it easier for them to continue attending Notre Dame football games. Another benefit was proximity to their 4 grandchildren, and they attended many of their grandkids grade school and high school activities and events. Frank enjoyed spending time at local lakes with family and friends, fishing, golf at Bowlers, and after retirement, he and Cathie were a part of weekly dinners with longtime friends most Tuesdays and Fridays.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Sr. and Lillian Taelman and his brother, Gene Taelman. He is survived by his wife, Cathie; sons Jim and Chris (Tracy); grandchildren, Kate, Mike, Ben and Dan; sister-in-law, Mary Taelman; niece, Kathy (Dan) Wilson; and nephews, Mike (Camille) Taelman and John (Lori Miner) Taelman.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 29 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 SR 933, South Bend. A U. S. Navy honor service and burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the Notre Dame campus. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 28 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the McGann Hay, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23, enter the parking lot off Cherry Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Child Society at 2366 Miracle Lane, Mishawaka, IN 46601 or the Hospice Foundation at 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545. To send private condolences, please visit www.McGannHay.com

Posted online on September 24, 2022

Published in South Bend Tribune

09/25/2022 EJS