Francis Breitbach 1919-2012

BREITBACH, SCHADLER, ELLERBACH, INSERRA, OLSEN, JOHNDEERE

Posted By: Judy Nicks (email)
Date: 11/11/2012 at 14:04:51

Francis (Frannie) John Breitbach

11/01/2012

Francis John (Frannie) Breitbach, 93, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away at home surrounded by his family, Thursday, November 1st.

Friends may call at Siegert Casper Colonial Funeral Home 390 N. Grandview Sunday, November 4 from 3 to 6 PM where a wake service will begin at 5:30 PM. Services will be at Holy Ghost Church Monday, November 5, at 10:30 AM, with Reverend Dwayne Thoman officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Key West.

He was born on January 29, 1919 on the family farm near Graf, IA, son of John and Anna (Schadler) Breitbach.

Francis married Leona Ellerbach at Holy Ghost Church, July 25th, 1942. They had two daughters, Nancy (Inserra) and Linda (Olsen).

They worked alternate shifts, Leona working at Dubuque Packing Company while Francis worked at John Deere, so the girls always had a parent at home.

Frannie grew up during the Great Depression which instilled a profound sense of creative resourcefulness combined with his curiosity that gave him the ability to build or repair almost anything. These talents served him well during his 30 year career with John Deere. One of his many proud highlights was working on the first transmission that became part of the first tractor to roll off the John Deere Dubuque Works assembly line. Francis advanced to become a mechanic in the Experimental Department inventing tools with such unique applications, they were patented by Deere & Company. He retired from John Deere in 1989 and enjoyed a long and productive retirement, traveling, gardening, fishing, hunting and jewelry making.
His strong heart and love of the outdoors enabled him to enjoy his enthusiasm for ice fishing in sub-zero temperatures, walking miles in two feet of snow to his favorite hunting and fishing spots, and searching for gems and minerals on a mountain top in sweltering heat, with his only shade... a John Deere cap. His annual summer hunt for rocks throughout the western United States and his love of mining opal in southwest Idaho became his winter passion of cutting and polishing his finds and setting them as exquisite jewelry. His artistry was made possible by machines he designed and built himself.

Surviving are his wife Leona, daughter Linda and Gary Olsen (Dubuque), daughter Nancy and George Inserra (Utica, NY), and grandson Andrew Inserra (Miami, FLA). Also surviving is his beloved dog, Daisy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Edward, Bernard (Barney), Irvin (Ike), his sister Marion and his beloved grandson George Inserra (1994).

The family extends a special thanks to Dr. John Viner and Ann at Dubuque Internal Medicine, and Hospice of Dubuque; especially Michelle.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com .