Francis Arbir

Visitation

Feb 14, 2022

Biography

Fran Arbir 79 of Guntersvile, Alabama passed away unexpectedly at his home in Guntersville on February 3rd. He is preceded in death by his wife Dottie (Dorothy Zwic) in 2010, his parents Walter and Florence, brother Larry of Bend, Oregon, and brother-in-law Al Bolek (Lynda Zwic) of Addison, Illinois. He is survived by his three sons-Jeffery (Karen Kennedy) of Shelby Township, Michigan. Joe Arbir (Michelle Vokes) -daughters Sammi, Mari, and Maggie of Ackwoth, Georgia, and Chris (Elizabeth Schiltz) -daughters Lauren and Morgan of St. Charles, Illinois and sister-in-laws Carol Zwic of Bloomingdale, Illinois and Lynda Bolek (Zwic) of Addison Illinois. Fran grew up in a Chicago neighborhood of Stickney and attended Morten East High School. He participated in baseball, football, and excelled in swimming. He attended Iowa State University on a swimming scholarship and then transferred to Northern Illinois University and married his high school sweetheart Dottie. He graduated NIU with a degree in Chemistry and a minor in mathematics. His career spanned from paint and pesticide formulation to pharmaceutical research and development the latter being for 25 years at Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago,Illinois. Fran and Dottie raised 3 boys Jeff, Joe, and Chris in the Chicago suburb of Itasca. Fran and Dottie moved to Guntersville approximately 25 years ago upon retirement after falling in love with the lake and southern hospitality. Their love of boating and fishing filled their retirement. After his wife’s death, his time was filled with travel to the Chicago suburbs for shopping trips and visits with granddaughters Lauren and Morgan (Chris) and frequent trips to Naples Florida with Chris’s family and fishing trips with Chris and Joe. He had a love for the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Blackhawks, and THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY . He was a long time parishioner at St. William in Guntersville volunteering for various activities including the St. William seafood festival, coat drive for needy families, bicycle delivery/ donation for needed children, and active in the Knights of Columbus at St. Williams. He made many dear friends at St. William.he spoke often of the friendships he made there He was also a member and volunteer at the Guntersville Civitan Club. Due to Frans wishes there will be no wake in Alabama or Illinois and he will be buried at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois. A celebration of life will be planned by his family at a later date in Guntersville and St. Charles, Illinois in the summer of 2022. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. William Knights of Columbus Council #12618 St. William Catholic Church, 929 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville, Alabama 35976. Cards can be sent to Chris Arbir -7n 870 Columbine West St. Charles, Il 60175.