Frances L. ‘Babe’ Buchholtz
Frances L. ‘Babe’ Buchholtz
ESCANABA — Frances L. “Babe” Buchholtz, age 95, of Escanaba, passed away Monday evening, May 3, 2021, at Bishop Noa Home.
Babe was born on February 2, 1926, at St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, the daughter of Thomas and Katherine (Eckes) Shanahan, the youngest of five siblings.
She graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1944 and then entered the Cadet Nursing Program at St. Joseph’s school of nursing in Bloomington. She graduated in 1947. Upon returning to Escanaba, she was employed at St. Francis Hospital as a Registered Nurse. Over her career, she also worked at the V.A. Hospital in Iron Mountain, and a short time at the U.S. Army Hospital at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
Babe was united in marriage to Paul H. Buchholtz on September 8, 1951, at St. Patrick’s church in Escanaba. They moved to Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where Paul was a Sgt. with the military police with the 82nd Airborne. When Paul was sent to Korea she returned to Escanaba and was again employed at St. Francis Hospital where she retired in 1972.
Frances was very active in sports, playing on the varsity girls basketball team in high school and later the nurses softball team. She also bowled.
Babe was also a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Wells for over 50 years, the Ladies Guild of St. Anthony’s, and the RSVP of Escanaba. She was also involved with making various crafts and took part in numerous craft shows. Babe also loved to travel.
Babe is survived by son, Thomas (Yvonne) Buchholtz of Ford River; daughter-in-law, Loita Buchholtz of Escanaba; two granddaughters, Raquel (Brent) Billings of Escanaba and Ranae (Douglas) Zellar of Wells; two great-grandsons, Zachary and Zayden Zellar of Wells; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
In addition to her parents, Babe was preceded in death by husband, Paul Buchholtz; son, Michael Buchholtz; two brothers, Lawrence and Roger Shanahan; and two sisters, Geraldine Garlinek-Wilcox and Arlene Jerow.
Family will receive friends Saturday, May 8, 2021, from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Escanaba. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for noon at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Wells, with Rev. Fr. Rick Courier officiating. Masks and social distancing at St. Anthony church is required. Babe will be laid to rest in the Holy Cross Cemetery.
The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Buchholtz family. Please visit www.skradskifuneralhomes.com where you can leave a message of condolence to the family.