Person:Theodore Hosler (1)

Name	Theodore Roosevelt 'Frank' Hosler
Gender	Male
Birth^[1]^[3]	13 Jul 1910	Echo, Antrim, Michigan, United States
Marriage	13 Aug 1930	Comstock (township), Kalamazoo, Michigan, United Statesto Lola Evelyn Green
Divorce	20 Feb 1936	Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United Statesfrom Lola Evelyn Green
Marriage	29 Feb 1936	Comstock (township), Kalamazoo, Michigan, United Statesto Geneva Henrietta Laug
Death^[2]	5 Apr 1977	Caledonia, Kent, Michigan, United StatesHe died at home either just before or just after midnight on Tuesday. April 5 was his mother's birthday.
Burial^[2]	10 Apr 1977	Woodlawn Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States

His name is Frank on 1920 census. There was a discussion when he was born whether he would be named Franklin after his sister's husband or Theodore after the U.S. President. For many years his name was Frank until a search of the birth records revealed that his quiet-mannered father 'won' the argument by registering the birth under Theodore.

1930 he is living with aunt, Jennie, and is a laborer for junk dealer, and at time of marriage in 1930 he was a mechanic.

He was seven years old when his mother died, and after her funeral, his aunt asked him what was bothering him. He said he didn’t want to go live with his older sister. She asked if he would like to live with her and he said ‘yes’. She told him to get his things, he came back with only a belt. He lived with Aunt Jennie and Uncle Louis in Comstock Michigan and later lived with his sister Sadie and her husband Frank in Antrim County Michigan. See Sadie's page for a story about Ted's truancy. A fond memory for him was when he went to a camp for impoverished children and was given milk at every meal. As an adult he did volunteer work for a similar camp in the Grand Rapids area. During the depression he went to Detroit. While riding on a bus he was surpised to see his brother Louis selling newspapers on a corner. He got off the bus and reunited with Louis for a short time. He rented a room by day in Detroit and one night did not have the money for that night’s lodging so he hung out in a bar. When the people in the bar learned of his predicament they ‘passed the hat’ and raised enough money for his rent for that night.

Like his father, he was a kind, quiet, steady, strong man, observing of rules. Also, like his father he was mostly self-taught and read many books and magazines. The National Geographic, Life magazine and newspapers were always by his chair, with bookmarks in them. He was an outdoors-man, liking to fish and hunt, and respectful of nature. He had many hobbies, which he learned thoroughly, through reading and associating with people who could help. He learned photography and built an enlarger and dark room; he learned to fly Cessna and Piper Cub planes; he learned scuba diving; and began collecting rocks, making several trips, with Geneva, out west. He could do ‘anything’ that required fixing or building, and was very generous with his skills in helping others. He was a truck mechanic by trade, working for his future brother-in-laws and later for Reliable Cartage many years. When he drove for Laug Brothers, the truck routinely threw a connecting rod. He became very adept at dropping the oil pan and replacing the rod along the roadside. He teased that he left grease spots all along the Chicago-Grand Rapids route. He had one patent for a tool. After retiring, he worked for a bulldozing company and later did bulldozing with his own small bulldozer, and he and Geneva built their home on the Thornapple river in Caledonia.

Obituary

HOSLER - Theodore Hosler, aged 66, passed away early Wednesday morning at his home, 7323-84th St., SE, Caledonia. Mr. Hosler was a member of the G.R. Mineral Society. Surviving are his wife Geneva, his son, Alan of Richland Wash., two daughters, Diane Hosler of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Michael (Carol) Giblin of Muskegon, five grandchildren, one brother, Alexander of Flint, three sisters, Izetta Kent of East Jordan, Mrs. Forrest (Dorothy) Laug of Spring Lake, Mrs. Marvin (Ardys) Wilks of Bellaire. Funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. in the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 2111-44th St., SE, Rev. Herbert VanderLugt of Alaska Baptist Church officiating. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Cancer Society. The family will be at the funeral home, Wednesday 7 to 9 and Thursday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

 Source: Grand Rapids Press, Wednesday, April 6, 1977, pg. 6D.

He had lung cancer, but that was not the primary cancer. Although the primary cancer was never located, his oncologist thought it might have been in the stomach. Source: Diane Hosler

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