Frank J. Horsch

Frank Joseph Horsch, Jr., age 81, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2007 in Bedford, New Hampshire.

He was born on June 7, 1926 to Estelle Georgina (Baird) and Frank Joseph Horsch, Sr. at Bushwick Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.  Frank grew up in Forest Hills Gardens and attended P.S. 101.  He graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, New York in September 1943.

Frank served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II as a Private First Class. He began active service on August 18, 1944 and served in the Pacific area from December 20, 1944 to February 4, 1946 and was honorably discharged on July 17, 1946 in San Diego, California. 

Following his World War II service, Frank attended the Academy of Aeronautics in Flushing, New York on the G.I. bill.  He then joined Grumman Aerospace Corporation in Bethpage, New York where he worked as a structural test engineer and contributed to projects such as the Apollo Lunar Module Program.  He retired from Grumman in February 1986 after 35 years.

Frank met his wife of 44 years, Hannelore “Lori” Kallisch, through their respective best friends.  Frank at the time was living in New York and Lori was in Kiel, Germany.  They began to correspond which eventually led Frank to Europe to meet her. They were married on March 16, 1963 at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Babylon, New York and lived in West Islip, New York for 23 years where they raised their three daughters.

Frank is most noted for having vast and varied hobbies and interests, each of which he dove into earnestly and thoroughly enjoyed.  Foremost, like this father, he was a builder and his workshop was impressive. 

Frank was a true perfectionist and there was nothing he could not build or fix.  He designed and built his home and garage workshop and the majority of the furniture in them, including the family TV that he put together from a mail order kit.  He also designed and built four boats that he enjoyed piloting in the Great South Bay.  His penchant for building and wood working also included crafting guitars and violins, and teaching himself how to play them; and building and flying model airplanes.  Frank was also an avid gardener, planning and cultivating an ever-expanding backyard organic garden.  He was also a photographer who created his own dark room and developed his own photos.

Some of Frank’s greatest joys were sailing on the Bay; baking, especially wheat bread from his own recipe; reading; and computer programming once computers came onto the scene.  In addition to his hobbies, he was also actively involved with Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, serving as its Finance Director, a Sunday School teacher and bible study participant for many years.  After retirement, Frank continued to enjoy his many interests: building, gardening, computers and flying model airplanes. 

Frank’s sister Elsie (Horsch) Mahood predeceased him.  He is survived by his wife and daughters: Karen Horsch of Manchester, NH; Andra Horsch of New York, NY and Diane Kreyer of Ashburn, VA; and four grandchildren: Emily, Brett, Carl and Allison.

A private family service was held on Monday, November 19, 2007.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Easter Seals Adult Day Care, 555 Auburn Street, Manchester, NH 03103.