Fundraiser to help family after pedestrian’s death

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Frank Wojtal, 50, was a husband, a father and a member of his community. On Nov. 12, Frank was killed when he was hit by a car while crossing Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Township.

A man of many things, Frank did it all. Having cerebral palsy throughout his life, he would teach karate when able and worked desktop support for Geek Squad. He was a member of the St. Hubert Catholic Church parish and a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, according to wife Susan Wojtal. At home, he was a father of five children and husband of 22 years, marrying Susan after becoming her tutor at Baker College in 1997.

“We were able to give him a beautiful service, as best as you can with it being a funeral,” Susan said. “He was a (member of the) Knights of Columbus, so they got an amazing rosary for him and a color guard watching his body. The community came together for his luncheon and donated some food … The community has been an amazing help. It’s just very hard that he’s gone.”

Despite the outpouring of support, which included a 5K walk in Frank’s honor, the Wojtal family has been saddled with a series of financial hurdles alongside the stress and grieving.

“With (Frank) being disabled, I do not receive any survivor benefits and I have to pay back his Social Security for the month because he died a few days too soon,” Susan said. “I have to pay back his money for the month plus have to make rent … every little bit that comes in helps pay for myself, my daughter and another daughter.”

To aid the family through these hardships, an old friend of Frank has stepped in to help by setting up a GoFundMe effort.

Steven Parks, a friend of Frank who is disabled and unable to make the trip from Ohio to Michigan, says he immediately began work on the fundraiser when he heard the news.

“We always talked about, ‘If I do go, watch out for my wife,’ and he was like, ‘You know I will,’” Parks said. “I think it is the least I can do at this time.”

The fundraiser has run since Nov. 13 and has generated nearly $20,000 toward a goal of $65,000.

A link to the fundraiser can be found by searching for “Frank’s Memorial” on GoFundMe.com.