Francis "Finky" VanLandschoot

Francis "Finky" H. VanLandschoot, age 90, of Munising, died late Tuesday evening, December 15, 2015 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising. He was born on November 16, 1925 in Gladstone, Michigan to Phillip and Romenic (Brockaert) VanLandschoot. Finky grew up in Gladstone and moved to Munising in his early teens. He worked with his father and brothers as commercial fishermen in Munising. Finky attended school in Munising and enlisted into the U.S. Navy on March 4, 1944. He served in the Pacific Theater on the USS Petrof Bay. Finky earned the WWII Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three bronze stars, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars. The Petrof Bay was involved at the campaigns and battles at: Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Mariana and Palau Islands, Phillipines, Samar, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Finky returned home after the War and married Janet Lezotte. Together, they raised their seven children. Finky returned to fishing with his family until he began employment with Kimberly Clark in 1954 and retired after exactly thirty years September 27, 1984. Finky was a member of Sacred Heart Church, the American Legion, and Moose Lodge. He coached a lot of kids in Little League Baseball for many years. Finky enjoyed hunting, fishing, and smoking fish out of his home, and he had a deep love for Grand Island.

He is survived by daughters - Denise (Tim) Colburn of Peshtigo, Kristi (Steve) Sager of Colorado Springs, Patty Niemi of Munising; sons - Phillip VanLandschoot of Tampa, FL, Scott "Dode" VanLandschoot, Todd VanLandschoot, and William VanLandschoot all of Munising; eleven grandchildren - Scott Colburn, Timmy Colburn, Nicole Lasak, Jaden Niemi, Katy Heikkila, Jake VanLandschoot, Luke VanLandschoot, D'Mitri VanLandschoot, Damian VanLandschoot, Jessica Pieknik, and Cody VanLandschoot; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Finky was preceded in death by his parents Phillip and Roma; son-in-law - Mike Niemi; brothers - Joseph, Paul, and Jerome VanLandschoot; and sisters - Tippi Bodette, Tillie Vinskoski, and Grace Barnes.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A Parish Vigil Service and time of sharing memories and stories will take place at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate his funeral Mass on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors. Finky will be escorted by his grandchildren.

Memorials are requested to be made to the American Legion Honor Guard in Finky's name.