Frank William Voisin

1922 - 2022  (100 years)

• Name	Frank William Voisin
  Born	11 Aug 1922	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-162809
  Died	13 Oct 2022	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Buried	Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I162809	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Urban Peter Voisin,   b. Mar 1900, St. Clements, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Anna Chrysantia Ebert,   b. 27 Jul 1901, , Germany ,   d. 1980  (Age 78 years)
  Married	20 Jun 1921	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Family ID	F46646	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Glady Rose Voll,   b. 10 Mar 1921, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 7 Sep 2008  (Age 87 years)
  Married	23 Feb 1946
  Children	1. Mac Voisin   2. Anne Voisin   3. Jane Voisin   4. Guy Voisin   5. Tina Voisin   6. Paul Voisin   7. Chis Voisin   8. Gregory Urban Voisin   9. George Gerald Voisin,   b. 20 Feb 1953,   d. 22 Jul 2008  (Age 55 years)
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F40127	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Voisin,FrankWilliam-0001-KitchenerWaterlooRecord-Enhanced.jpg Lifetimes: Frank Voisin's love of work led to successful development company (2022). Available at: https://www.therecord.com/life/2022/10/31/lifetimes-frank-voisins-love-of-work-led-to-successful-development-company.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=therecord_life (Accessed: 3 November 2022).

  
  

• Notes

  Lifetimes: Frank Voisin's love of work led to successful development company By Valerie Hill Special to the Record If Frank Voisin had a single catchphrase that summed up his life, it was "work is fun." Work. Hard work. Work that started when he was a little boy growing up on a Crosshill farm and continued into his 20s when he was building houses with his wife Glady Voll. That hard work led Frank to start a development company, one that over the years erected hundreds of houses plus retail developments. Then there was his work taking care of his family of five birth kids and four adopted, along with one foster kid, Vince Varga. Frank and Glady never differentiated: they were all Glady and Frank's kids, period. "Frank was an incredible man of integrity, charity and diligence," said Varga. "I look at Glady and Frank as wonderful people." Varga had been taken in by the Voisins when his mom was in hospital and his dad abandoned the family. The couple treated Varga as a son. Not having his own father in his life, Vince looked to Frank for guidance. "I couldn't have had a better role model. I'm eternally grateful," said Varga. Frank was born into poverty on Aug. 11, 1922, in Waterloo, one of Anna and Urban Voisin's six children. They moved to a small farm when he was an infant. Growing up poor with no toys, Frank convinced himself that work was the fun he was seeking. Then he learned he could earn money by working and that it was a path out of poverty. The family returned to Waterloo when Frank was four. As a kid, he worked in his grandmother's grocery store. After graduating from high school and being recognized for his exceptional math skills, Dominion Rubber hired him as a planner. Life was improving, and about to get even better. The first time Frank saw Glady Voll was at a picnic in 1935 when he watched her win a foot race. Five years later, he saw her again at a dance. Frank was brave enough to ask the lovely brunette for a spin around the dance floor. Glady was an excellent dancer. Frank, not so much. With the idea of improving their financial situations, the couple scraped together $250 and bought a lot on Glasgow Street, planning to build a house to sell. Though not yet married, they were partners in this new housing venture, launching in 1945 what would eventually become Voisin Developments. They soon sold that lot, finding a better, albeit more expensive location on Earl Street where they built their first house. They secured a small mortgage that served as a line of credit, providing funds that could be used for building materials. Frank drew up the design and headed to the library, learning what he could about each of the trades, from electrical to bricklaying. He would do the work himself. Glady worked at Kaufman Rubber, helping Frank during her free time. She stirred the mortar, hauled the bricks, did whatever was needed and never complained. They married on Feb. 23, 1946, and were together until Glady's death in 2008. By the 1950s Frank was designing and building 125 homes a year, and his company was the largest home builder in the twin cities. His memoir lists the addresses of the 943 homes his company built, plus two shopping centres. He purchased hundreds of acres, patiently waiting until the time was ripe for development. The business, still run by the Voisin family, continues to expand on the patriarch's vision. Granddaughter Julie Voisin remembered working with Frank while developing the Sunrise Plaza. "I was amazed by his attention to detail," she recalled. "Every number mattered; every parking space mattered." Frank was in his early 80s at the time and still came to work every morning, not going home for lunch. He was also a man of some eccentricities. Always looking for ways to save time, he would only wear beige and had several shirts, pants and shoes \emdash all identical \emdash so there were no time wasted figuring out what to wear. Healthy eating and exercise were also important to Frank, lessons he taught his family. For the grandkids it was "always eat your broccoli." He also taught them it was OK to be a little silly. Son Greg Voisin in a eulogy spoke of his dad's early successes as a builder and said that by his 40s, he had started to focus on charity work, supporting St. Mary's hospital, churches, the Carmelite Sisters and other Catholic institutions, including schools and a counselling centre. His philanthropy did not go unnoticed. "The highlight was the papal honour as a Knight Commander with Star of St. Gregory the Great," conferred in 2011, said Greg. There's even a Kitchener park named after the family, on land Frank donated. In August, the family celebrated Frank's 100th birthday. Frank died just two months later on Oct. 13. Valerie Hill is a former Record reporter. She can be reached at vmhill296@gmail.com. Lifetimes: Frank Voisin's love of work led to successful development company (2022). Available at: https://www.therecord.com/life/2022/10/31/lifetimes-frank-voisins-love-of-work-led-to-successful-development-company.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=therecord_life (Accessed: 3 November 2022). ________________________ Frank W. Voisin August 11, 1922 \endash October 13, 2022 Having celebrated his 100th birthday a short time ago, our beloved "Papa" died peacefully on Thursday, October 13, 2022, surrounded by his family at his home on Juniper Cres., where he lived since 1961. Frank was the firstborn of Urban and Anna (nee Ebert) Voisin in Waterloo. He is lovingly remembered by his sisters Eileen (Joe Pohl) and Kathy (Bill McGlynn), and predeceased by sisters Dorothy (Merrill Dillon), and Anne (Erick Hutter), and brother Louis (Clare). Frank had a long, prolific, and purposeful life. He was married to the love of his life Glady Voll for 62 wonderful years. They were loving parents to Greg (Marie Durrer), Mac (Marcela Bahar), Anne (George Lavallee), Jane (Dr. Tom Simpson), George (who died in 2008 and was married to Elaine Kuntz), Guy (Anne Distler), Tina (Perry Van Arsdale), Paul (who died in 2010), Chris (Heather Sampson), and Vince Varga (Cathie Cullen). Frank is adored by his 26 grandchildren: Cynthia Voisin (Dr. John Sehl), Steve Voisin (Shevaun Day), Tanya Voisin (Scott Wigle), Julie Voisin (Dr. Tyler Zapton), Frank Voisin (Jessica Harris); Fr. Adam Voisin, Angie Voisin (Shawn Cote); Dr. Chad Lavallee (Tonya Robertson), Avril Lavallee (Steve Hatton), Brent Lavallee (Marlene Dale), Mary Anne Lavallee (Jeff Corbett); Christie Doneff (Brandon Doneff), Michelle Nowak (Dave Green), Kyle Simpson (Angela Stevens), Rob Nowak, (Stephanie Martin), Greg Nowak; Ben Voisin (Sabina Kayser), Heather Voisin (James Aru), Harmony Voisin (Nick Orlando), Simon Voisin (Marisa Krulicki); Kelly Voisin, Jenna Voisin (Jay Becker); Andrea Bester (Scott Handfield), Amy Bester; Megan Smith (Dylan Smith) and Nicholas Voisin. Frank was blessed with 50 great-grandchildren: Olivia, Claudia, Anthony, Mary Ella and Jack Sehl; Aedyn, Skyler, Ashley and Ireland Voisin; Cole, Eric, Morgan, Sydney, Lincoln, Reese and Brooke Wigle; Turner, Cooper and Camden Zapton; Kate and James Voisin; Brodie and Lily Cote; Alex, Keira, Sophie and Chloe Lavallee; Alina Hatton; Lauren Lavallee; Jade and Carter Doneff; Quinten Martin; JT and Addison Simpson; Grace and Ava Voisin; Georgia, Slade and Tallinn Aru; Mila, Marshall, Elaina and Nicholas Orlando; Brooklyn, Paige and Taylor Becker; Ayla and Elle Handfield; Cole and Liam Smith. Frank had humble beginnings living through the Great Depression, yet he was ambitious to get ahead. At the age of 4, he walked around in his Grandma Ebert's grocery store looking for work. Eventually he delivered groceries on a bicycle and embraced the motto "work is fun". He learned about construction and was self-taught. He built his first house at the age of 22 and Glady was always at his side. By 1958, his company built nearly 1000 homes in Forest Hill, Forest Heights, and Lincoln Heights in Kitchener-Waterloo. He also built the Forest Hill and Sunrise Shopping Centres. Frank was a true community builder and left a great legacy for his family and community. He cared deeply for St. Mary's General Hospital and served in various positions in committees and on the Board for several decades. He was on the building committees for Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Waterloo and St. Francis Church in Kitchener. He was instrumental in building the monastery for the Carmelite Sisters of St. Joseph in St. Agatha and maintained an active involvement for 50 years on the Committee for the Sisters. Frank was a man of deep faith. Because of his exceptional efforts in the dedication to the Catholic Church and the Hamilton Diocese, he was awarded a Papal Honour as a Knight Commander with Star of St. Gregory the Great by Bishop Anthony Tonnos (1989) and Bishop Douglas Crosby (2011). While Frank kept preoccupied with his work, he found the time to have a full and rich personal life. Frank had plenty of interests including flying, healthy eating, and world events. He travelled extensively with Glady and their home was always the hub of activity. Visitations will be held at Henry Walser Funeral Home 507 Frederick St. Kitchener (519-749-8467) on Thursday, October 20 and Friday October 21, 2022 from 4:00-7:00pm. Vigil service will be held at 7:00pm on Friday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, 173 Lourdes St, Waterloo on Saturday October 22, 2022 at 10:00am with Fr. Adam Voisin presiding. Afterward, everyone is invited to join the family in the parish hall for a reception. Private interment with the family will follow at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener. In honour of Frank's legacy, donations will be graciously accepted by the Carmel of St. Joseph and St. Mary's General Hospital Foundation. Frank Voisin Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (2022). Available at: https://www.henrywalser.com/memorials/frank-voisin/5045624/index.php (Accessed: 3 November 2022).

  
  

• Sources

  [S87] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Woodland CC#4510 Internet Link . Voisin/ Frank W./ Voisin/ 1922- / Gladys R./ Voll/ 1921- / Our Trust Is In God [2022 update] Gladys died 2008 [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244708683.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 11 Aug 1922 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 13 Oct 2022 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth