Franz X. Rotter passed away peacefully Tuesday, November 10, 2015 surrounded by family and friends. Franz was 84 years old and leaves behind an indescribable legacy. He was born on May 27, 1931 in Schonenberg, Germany. He was one of eight children in his parents' household and started to help his family with the farm at a very young age. At the age of 14 he went to a trade school for the hotel industry in Lucerne, Switzerland. While working in St. Moritz, Switzerland Franz saw an advertisement for a chef at the Drake hotel in the United States in Chicago. He applied for the position and was hired for the job. Franz traveled to the United States by Holland Cruise Line and docked in New York in 1954. He was only able to work at the Drake hotel for six months before he was drafted by the American army and stationed in Germany. He was in the army for two years and was discharged in the spring of 1958. During his army period he married his wife, Hanna, on August 24, 1957. Hanna and Franz started their life together in Chicago and had two children, Frank and Ann. After two years working as a chef, Franz started to work for Fred Harvey as a night manager. He worked his way up to general manager. In 1969, Franz was transferred to Grand Canyon, Arizona to continue to work for Fred Harvey. After leaving Fred Harvey, Franz helped build the Grand Canyon Squire Inn. He then took over the Red Feather Lodge where he helped construct an additional 56 rooms for a total of 110 rooms. Due to his passion of being a chef, Franz added a restaurant. After 15 years he built his own hotel, the Quality Inn, and has been expanding it ever since. The hotel is now named the Canyon Plaza Resort. Franz has worked very hard his entire life and even towards the end nothing kept him away from his desk. Franz is survived by his wife Hanna Rotter, his son Frank Rotter (Janine), daughter Ann Serna (Louie), his grandchildren Jackie, Jessie, Kelsey, Karrina, Danny, his great granddaughters Hannah and Emma, his two brothers Georg and Erust, and his sister Kathy. Franz will be greatly missed and remembered always. His funeral services will be held on Friday, November 20, 2015 at the Shrine of the Ages at 12:00. A celebration of life will follow after at the Canyon Plaza Resort.