Obituary: Dixie Lee Fralic, 58, Hart.

Dixie Fralic

Dixie Lee Fralic, 58 of Hart, formerly of Manistee passed away on Friday, May 15 at her home surrounded by her family after a hard fought fight with cancer.  She won the battle and now celebrates with her savior in heaven.

Dixie was born on September 29, 1956 in Frankfort, the daughter of Robert and Norma (Soper) Schimke, and graduated from Onekema High School with the class of 1974.  On February 22, 1975 she married the love of her life, Rusty Fralic at the Irons Union Church officiated by her uncle Rev. Fred Soper.  They have celebrated 40 hand in hand by each other’s side.

Dixie loved her family, her husband, her children, and especially her precious grandchildren.  She had a playful and carefree attitude and faced every task with amazing energy.  She loved traveling the open road with Rusty on their motorcycles often traveling out west.  Dixie’s faith was her foundation, which helped her be a blessing to many throughout her fight with cancer.  When living in Manistee, she and Rusty served as youth leaders in their church, assisted with youth soccer, and recently while living in Texas helped prepare and serve meals for the ARK Church Thanksgiving meal outreach feeding thousands.  Her great sense of humor and infectious smile would light up a room.

Dixie was preceded in death by her father Robert Schimke, her father-in-law Dale Fralic, her daughter-in-law Melissa Fralic, and her brother-in-law Kerry Fralic.

She will be greatly missed by her husband Rusty, her daughter Layna (Bill) Howland of Hurricane, West Virginia, her son Mark Fralic of Hart, her grandchildren Lilee and Liam Howland, her mother Norma Schimke of Onekema, her brother and sisters Julie Hansen, Tammie (Frank)Kruse, and David (Kristine) Schimke, all of Manistee, Loree (John) Sprawka of Onekema, Bonnie (Mike) Nethercott of Lowell, and Connie (Steve) Miller of Lakeview, her mother-in-law Jan (Jack) Aussicker of Zeeland, her sisters-in-law Jody (Vic) Winstrom of Holland, Tomi (Joe) Bystrom of Zeeland, and Katie (Steve) Cloninger of Conover, North Carolina, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and great friends.

A Celebration of Dixie’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 23 at the Mason County Reformed Church in Scottville, with her friend Pastor Dan Barkholz officiating.  Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Saturday morning from 10:00 am until time of services at the church.  Those who wish to make contributions in Dixie’s memory are asked to consider the Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research, 2726 Bissonnet Street, Suite 240-602, Houston, Texas 77005.  www.thebroachfoundation.org

Please visit Dixie’s personal memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a tribute of Dixie for her family, or to light a candle in her