LOUIS AND ANATONIA KATANAC FRANCETIC

Louis Francetic was born in Yugoslavia on June 4, 1868; his parents were Phonias and Agnes Prelec or Pralor Francetic. He married Antonia Katanac on January 6, 1892 in Yugoslavia. Antonia was born December 28, 1872; her parents were Paul and Margareta Kushtic Katanec. Louis came to the United States from Suenedjelya, Yugoslavia in 1907, when his son Tony was 14 years old. They resided in Chicago, Illinois a short time before moving to Lakefield Township in 1907.

By 1916, Louis and Antonia owned and operated two parcels of land in Section 4 in Lakefield Township. They owned 76 acres on Ederer Road between Fenmore and Meridian Roads and 40 acres of land on Fenmore Road between Ederer and Swan Creek; both properties adjoined in the middle of the mile. Their total property was 116 acres. Their neighbors were A. McDonald, Herbert J. Wilson, M.C. Ross, E.J. Frost, and Joseph Suber.

Louis and Antonia's children attended the Byrne's School, located on the SW corner of Swan Creek and Fenmore Roads. Louis and Antonia belonged to the Merrill Sacred Heart Church.

Louis and Antonia's children were:

1. Anthony “Tony” Francetic was born February 23, 1893 in Yugoslavia. He married Julia Marohnic on May 16, 1916. Tony died on September 15, 1959 and is buried in the St. Andrew Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

2. Amelia “Molly” Francetic was born December 1894 in Suenedjelya, Yugoslavia. She married Jack Marohnic. Molly died on February 8, 1990 and is buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lakefield Township.

3. Maxwell Francetic was born April 2, 1900 in Yugoslavia. He died February 14, 1964 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

4. Anastasia Francetic was born in 1907 in Lakefield Township. She died in 1911 and is buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lakefield Township.

5. Frank Francetic was born January 12, 1909 in Lakefield Township. He married Cora Walker. Frank passed away on March 12, 1997 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.

6. Stephen “Steve” Francetic was born December 26, 1910. He married Josephine Stonina. Steve passed away on August 22, 1978.

7. Clara Francetic was born June 27, 1913 in Lakefield Township. Clara married Michael I. Orihel on May 19, 1934. Clara passed away on July 5, 2004 and is buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lakefield Township.

8. George Francetic was born October 3, 1915 and passed away on July 8, 1928.

Louis passed away June 3, 1942 and Antonia passed away on May 28, 1958. They are both buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lakefield Township.

SOURCES: 1910, 1920, 1930 Lakefield Township U.S. Census; Louis, Antonia, Anthony, Steve, Molly and Clara Francetic's obituaries; Find-A-Grave Website of Anastasia, Antonia, George, Louis, Steve, Amelia Marohnic and Clara Orihel; Maxwell's death record; Anthony Francetic's WWII draft registration..