Frank Scoma Jr
September 4th, 1940 - August 30th, 2024
Share Book of Memories with a Friend
Please enter the name and email details so that we can send your friend a link to the online tribute. No names or addresses will be collected by using this service.
Frank's Obituary
It is so hard to understand why some people are taking from us at that specific time in our lives. That is a question no one ever knows ...
“Those we Love
don’t go away
they walk beside us
Everyday
Unseen, unheard,
But always there
still Loved
still missed
and very dear.”
His name is Frank Scoma Jr., Dad, Grandpa, or Papa. He was born on Sept. 4th, 1940, in Benton Harbor, MI. He was relieved of duty on Aug. 30th, 2024.
Anyone who knew him, talked to him, was a friend, or just an employee. Anywhere he went, people knew him by name and knew he was that one person that wanted everyone to smile and have a great day.
Frank spent his entire life in this area and graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1958. He also started working at a few different tire shops, where he quickly became known as the man who helped everyone, including the homeless that would come in cold and just need to warm their hands up.
He became a volunteer firefighter for the Hagar Shore Fire Department and was also involved in building the Hagar Shore Fire Department Station. While moving on to the Watervliet Volunteer Fire Department, Frank was hired as a full-time firefighter with the Benton Township Fire Department, where he stayed until he retired in 1992 as a lieutenant.
Frank became an avid collector of fire memorabilia, along with many different items from fire trucks to toys. He had a passion for anything that was different or unusual. Frank ended up with a total of three fire trucks that he restored, along with miniature cars that he had picked up. His third and final fire engine was purchased from Marion city and donated back to the Marion County Museum after being completely restored. While owning these fire trucks and miniature cars, Frank, his family and friends enjoyed riding in numerous parades and events happening in the community. He also had Smokey the Bear along with dalmatian dog costumes that would walk beside the fire trucks and throw candy to the kids.
While in his 70's Frank still enjoyed being a landlord of several properties he owned and did small, odd jobs that kept him busy. He finally decided to have his own business cards made with his company name “BUSINESS NAME: Buyer and Seller of fine junk, OWNER: Frank Scoma, CONTACT NUMBER: none". He was so proud of himself for finally having business cards, but he forgot to put the phone number on it. He was okay with that though. That’s the type of person he was. Most of his tenants in his rentals loved him and a few stayed with him for more than 10 years. He did most of his own maintenance repairs and spent a lot of time at Lowe's. He was there so often that many people thought he was an employee. He was the type of person that on Employee Appreciation Day, he joined in to have lunch with the employees. They all knew him by name and by his crazy T- shirts he used to wear. He was always in a t-shirt that had a funny or silly saying.
Frank loved his family very much. He often took one of the kids with him to teach them business techniques and good work ethics. One kid had a trailer for sale and was willing to let Frank have it for $300 dollars. He bought it and a short time later, when he was done with the trailer, Frank asked the same kid if he wanted to buy the trailer back. That same kid did want it back and assumed it was $300. Frank said "when you owned it, it was only worth $300 to you. I own it and it's worth $500 to me". Lesson learned!
Different child, Frank was riding in the car with one of the kids. He said, "pull over on the side of the road". So, they did. Frank got out and walked down the road, just a bit out of sight. Back he came with several beautiful tomatoes. Over the next few weeks, they did it a few more times. The last time he came back to the car quickly and said, “GO GO GO!” Kid said, “What's wrong? You have permission, right?" Frank said, "I don't know, I don't speak Spanish". Lesson learned!
This is the man that we grew up with and we all had a different lesson, but all his lessons were with tons of love and laughter. This man will be missed by so many and it's not because of money or riches, it's about the fun and laughter he gave to each and every person he came in contact with.
Our family is broken and incomplete without you.💔
“Those we Love
don’t go away
they walk beside us
Everyday
Unseen, unheard,
But always there
still Loved
still missed
and very dear.”
His name is Frank Scoma Jr., Dad, Grandpa, or Papa. He was born on Sept. 4th, 1940, in Benton Harbor, MI. He was relieved of duty on Aug. 30th, 2024.
Anyone who knew him, talked to him, was a friend, or just an employee. Anywhere he went, people knew him by name and knew he was that one person that wanted everyone to smile and have a great day.
Frank spent his entire life in this area and graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1958. He also started working at a few different tire shops, where he quickly became known as the man who helped everyone, including the homeless that would come in cold and just need to warm their hands up.
He became a volunteer firefighter for the Hagar Shore Fire Department and was also involved in building the Hagar Shore Fire Department Station. While moving on to the Watervliet Volunteer Fire Department, Frank was hired as a full-time firefighter with the Benton Township Fire Department, where he stayed until he retired in 1992 as a lieutenant.
Frank became an avid collector of fire memorabilia, along with many different items from fire trucks to toys. He had a passion for anything that was different or unusual. Frank ended up with a total of three fire trucks that he restored, along with miniature cars that he had picked up. His third and final fire engine was purchased from Marion city and donated back to the Marion County Museum after being completely restored. While owning these fire trucks and miniature cars, Frank, his family and friends enjoyed riding in numerous parades and events happening in the community. He also had Smokey the Bear along with dalmatian dog costumes that would walk beside the fire trucks and throw candy to the kids.
While in his 70's Frank still enjoyed being a landlord of several properties he owned and did small, odd jobs that kept him busy. He finally decided to have his own business cards made with his company name “BUSINESS NAME: Buyer and Seller of fine junk, OWNER: Frank Scoma, CONTACT NUMBER: none". He was so proud of himself for finally having business cards, but he forgot to put the phone number on it. He was okay with that though. That’s the type of person he was. Most of his tenants in his rentals loved him and a few stayed with him for more than 10 years. He did most of his own maintenance repairs and spent a lot of time at Lowe's. He was there so often that many people thought he was an employee. He was the type of person that on Employee Appreciation Day, he joined in to have lunch with the employees. They all knew him by name and by his crazy T- shirts he used to wear. He was always in a t-shirt that had a funny or silly saying.
Frank loved his family very much. He often took one of the kids with him to teach them business techniques and good work ethics. One kid had a trailer for sale and was willing to let Frank have it for $300 dollars. He bought it and a short time later, when he was done with the trailer, Frank asked the same kid if he wanted to buy the trailer back. That same kid did want it back and assumed it was $300. Frank said "when you owned it, it was only worth $300 to you. I own it and it's worth $500 to me". Lesson learned!
Different child, Frank was riding in the car with one of the kids. He said, "pull over on the side of the road". So, they did. Frank got out and walked down the road, just a bit out of sight. Back he came with several beautiful tomatoes. Over the next few weeks, they did it a few more times. The last time he came back to the car quickly and said, “GO GO GO!” Kid said, “What's wrong? You have permission, right?" Frank said, "I don't know, I don't speak Spanish". Lesson learned!
This is the man that we grew up with and we all had a different lesson, but all his lessons were with tons of love and laughter. This man will be missed by so many and it's not because of money or riches, it's about the fun and laughter he gave to each and every person he came in contact with.
Our family is broken and incomplete without you.💔
Service Details
View the current service details below. Sign up for email or text updates to receive notifications of any changes to service schedules or important information.