After an extended illness, Frank Norton Conn passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, at the age of 74. He was born on July 29, 1947, in Carson City, Michigan, to the late George and Helen (Hackenberg) Conn. He was preceded in death by a brother, George (Sam) Conn, and a sister, Judith Holmes, both of Michigan, as well as three nephews. He married Dawn M. Beard on July 12, 1969.

Frank grew up in Michigan helping on the family dairy farm which also raised essential oils. He graduated from Alma High School in Alma, Michigan, in 1965, and was in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969 stationed in Alaska. He graduated from Northrup Institute of Technology in Inglewood, California, in January of 1971, certified as an aircraft (air frame/power plant) mechanic.

In 1971, Frank returned to the Elwell, Michigan, area for a time. In 1977, Frank moved his wife and daughter from Michigan to Soldotna, Alaska, and lived there for 23 years. While in Alaska, he was an auto mechanic with his own shop, as well as being a trapper, commercial fisherman, bush pilot, and an aircraft mechanic.

In July, 2000, Frank and his wife moved from Alaska to Cass, Arkansas, living there for 20 years maintaining a cow/calf operation as well as trapping and some mechanic work. In December, 2020, Frank moved to Van Buren, Arkansas, where he resided until his passing.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28th at Cass Baptist Chapel, located near Turner Bend on Hwy. 23, north of Ozark, Arkansas. Officiating the service will be Bro. Chuck Starnes.

An additional memorial service will be held at Chapel Gardens Cemetery in Alma, Michigan, at a later date.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dawn Conn; a daughter, April D. Gentry and husband James of Fairbanks, Alaska; a son, Nathan Conn and wife Cynthia of Hermosa Beach, California; his grandsons, Noah Conn, Ethan Conn and Jay Gentry; his granddaughter, Vivienne Conn. He is also survived by two brothers, William Conn and Robert Conn, all of Michigan; two sisters, Patricia Conn-Smith of Michigan and Ruth (Susie) Brothers of Georgia, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Cremation Services in Fort Smith, 914 N. 32nd St. Fort Smith, AR  72903. (479) 434-3901 or (479) 965-8202

To place an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com . You can visit our Facebook page, Brotherton Brothers Cremation Services in Fort Smith, Arkansas.