Robert 'Rob' Culver Frears, 85, of Traverse City passed away peacefully Monday, August 28, 2017 at Munson Hospice House.

He was born in Alberta, Canada in 1932 to Tom and Clara Frears. He was remarried in 1988 and is survived by his wife Alta Somsel. The have four children – Mark (Cynthia) Frears of Plano, TX, Tom (Kathleen) Frears of Brownville, NY, Michelle (Alexander) Struble of Grand Rapids, MI and Kimberly (Peter) Schmitz of Traverse City, MI. They have eight grandchildren.

Rob had two careers – first as a minister in two churches and one church agency; then as a counselor in three community mental health agencies. He retired in 1998 and volunteered helping seniors with taxes and health insurance. He remained an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.

He was a sailor all his life and enjoyed travelling, reading and singing in church choirs.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Pastor Bill Meyers will officiate services. Cremation and burial will take place at a later date.

Those wishing an expression of sympathy are encouraged to direct contributions to the Maritime Heritage Alliance, 13268 S W Bay Shore Dr. Traverse City, MI 49684 or to The First Baptist Church in Guelph, Ontario which speaks to his early Canadians roots and was his father's pastoral legacy.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Rob with his family by way of his online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .

The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.