Olan Franklin Black

      Olan Franklin Black, age 90, of Middleton, Michigan, passed away Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Laurels of Carson City, Carson City, MI.
      A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, Perrinton, MI, at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, with Rev. Fr. Edwin Dwyer presiding. Burial will take place at Fulton Center Cemetery Perrinton, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2-8 P.M. with the family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday evening at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, Michigan.
       Olan was born in Riverdale, MI on July 18, 1934, the son of Wallace David and Mary Charlotte (Dangler) Black. He served his country in the US Army with the 553rd Field Artillery Battalion. On October 6, 1956, Olan married Betty Mae Cotter at Mount St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Louis, MI. They were blessed with sixty-eight years of marriage, prior to her passing on June 14, 2025.
      Olan owned and operated O&B Construction Company for many years. He enjoyed going to auctions, playing cards, he collected pocket watches, and antique clocks. Olan made peanut brittle for the Christmas season for family and members of the community. He was a lifetime member of St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church. He was the last surviving member of the founding families that formed the church in Perrinton, Michigan.
       He is survived by son Alan and Linda Black of St. Louis, MO; daughter Susan Waber of Ithaca, MI; son Dennis and Pauline Black of Ithaca, MI; son Duane and Colleen Black of Ithaca, MI; eleven grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mary Jean Borton; brother Nathan and Donna Black; and sister-in-law Joann Black. Olan was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Greg Waber, four siblings: Margie (Marshall) Abbott, Dorothy (Bill) Bunker, Carrie (Vincent) Wieferich, and Ernest Black.
       Memorials may be made to St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, mailing address, 121 North Union Street Ithaca, Michigan, 48847. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.