Frank Raymond Marvin, husband, brother, father, grandfather, businessman, friend, and one of the most thoughtful men we all knew, died March 2, 2024 in his beloved hometown of Warroad, Minnesota. He was 82.
Frank was born on October 28, 1941 in Warroad, MN to Margaret Wallin Marvin and William S. Marvin. Frank loved his childhood, especially the small-town freedom to play with abundant neighborhood friends. He was a proud eldest brother to five siblings, and at Warroad High School, Frank made friendships he treasured for the rest of his life.
After pursuing college and landing a first job in glass sales, Frank married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Johnston, in 1966. Soon after, he was pleased to accept his father’s request to join the family business. Frank served over 42 years at Marvin Windows and Doors, including four years as Vice President of Sales and 11 years as company president. Together with his father, uncles, cousins, and siblings, he helped steer the company toward its current status as a world-renowned manufacturer headquartered in Warroad.
Frank and Margaret went on to raise six children and celebrate 57 years of marriage in Warroad. The great joy of their marriage was family time, especially family celebrations, annual trips to Pine Acres Island, fishing, swimming, picnics, family road trips, hockey and sporting events, saunas, and always meals together around the kitchen table. Spare time was rare for Frank, but he loved the occasional bird hunting trips he shared with his father, uncle, and hunting friends to Saskatchewan.
At home, Frank’s values of loyalty, humility and personal responsibility facilitated a true, loving partnership with Marg. He deeply trusted her parental instincts and knowledge about children. He respected her faith and values. Marg was assured by Frank’s emotional steadiness, his vigilance about finances and practical matters, and his vision for the future. As a father, Frank expected his children to do their best in work and school, plan for the future, do right by others, remember to “thank the Big Guy upstairs,” and always, always pay their bills on time! His family knew him as a tough grader; his B+ was anyone else’s A+. But to his kids, Dad’s B+ was encouraging. Its message was: be humble and keep reaching. Ultimately, he gave his children and grandchildren the best foundation for life: the safety and security of a figure who planned for them, put them first, and accepted them as they are.
Frank made others feel special. He had a gift for connecting with and remembering unique facts about others. He composed thoughtful letters and voicemails, rarely missed a retirement party, was a regular at Saturday coffee and dice, showed extra love with his famous $2 bills or sticks of gum, recognized his siblings’ birthdays and others’ accomplishments, generously supported local kids in fundraising for sports and activities, and for years handed out gifts as Santa at his beloved St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Frank was deeply grateful for and cognizant of the hard work of his peers in the community, and he believed in investing in Warroad and surrounding communities. He and his siblings supported the development of the Warroad Senior Living Center. Frank and Marg were longtime supporters of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation and the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation. Most recently, Frank and Marg envisioned a place for the whole community to gather, celebrate, and foster the types of connection Frank found so meaningful in his life. This dream became RiverPlace, an arts, culture, and events center set to open in Warroad later this year.
Frank is preceded in death by his parents, William S. Marvin and Margaret Wallin Marvin, his sister Margaret (Peggy) Johnson and her husband Sam Johnson, two infant siblings, father-and mother-in-law Dorrance and Eudora Johnston, step-mother-in-law Pearl Johnston, brothers-in-law Albert (Linda) Johnston and David (Karin) Johnston. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, his children, Ginny (Pete Anderson) and children Graham, Mimi, Julia, and Liam; Dan (Kristie) and children Jake, Bo, Matthew, and Luke; Paul (Maureen) and children Owen, Emmett, Griffin, Caroline, Mary Kate, and Nora; Willy (Bobbie) and children CeCe, Annie, and Oliver; Katy (John Kirchner) and children Jackson, Henry, Isabelle, and Bennett; Sarah and children Raymond, Louise, and Salvador; siblings Jake, George (Mary), Susan (Keith Schwartzwald), and Bob (Loralee); and brother-in-law Jack (Rita) Johnston.
A funeral service will take place on Monday, March 11, 2024, at the Warroad High School Gym at 4:30 pm. A visitation will take place the night before at the Wm. S. Marvin Training and Visitor Center in Warroad at 4:30 pm with a prayer service at 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Warroad RiverPlace.
Last modified: 03/07/2024
