PERSINGER, Francis E. 1915-1990

PERSINGER, ULLRICH, MILLER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/31/2015 at 13:05:38

F. E. Persinger Rites Are Held

Francis Persinger, 75, of Grundy Center, passed away Thursday, June 14, at his home.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 18, at the United Methodist Church in Grundy Center, with Pastor D. Ward Young officiating.

Jay and Alice Stewart sang "Nearer, My God To Thee." Mrs. Sandie Stumberg was the organist.

Casket bearers were Robert Hogle, Larry Eslinger, Everett Wilson, Ken Hogle, Jack VanWechel and Allen Cramer.

Ushers were Roger Peters, Don Palmer and Marlyn Peters. Shirley Peters and Frances Sievert were in charge of the floral arrangements.

Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery, Grundy Center.

Francis Earl Persinger was born January 3, 1915, in Shell Rock, the son of Earl E. and Margaret Ullrich Persinger.

Francis grew up and was educated in Shell Rock, graduating from Shell Rock High School in 1932. He attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1939.

On April 30, 1943, Francis was united in marriage to Celestine Miller in Grundy Center.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in both the Pacific and European Theaters.

In 1946, Francis and Celestine began grain and livestock farming in the Grundy Center area. Together they developed Fran-Cel Registered Holsteins (1946-1969) and Fran-Cel Registered Suffolks (1973-1990).

Francis was very active in his community and was a member of many organizations and served on various boards. He was a Grundy County Farm Bureau member for 50 years, holding numerous offices over the years; he was Butler-Grundy Farm Service Director for 23 years and served as president; he was a 4-H leader for 20 years; he was on the Grundy Center Senior Citizen Housing Board and served as president in 1981-82; he was a member of the Iowa Holstein Association and was State President from 1959-60; he was a lifetime member of the American Legion; he was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International; he was a member of the United Methodist Church in Grundy Center, serving on various committees; and he was 4-H Youth Assistant for Black Hawk and Grundy counties.

Francis was the recipient of many awards in his lifetime, including the Iowa Distinguished Dairyman Award in 1968; the Progressive Breeders Award given by the Holstein-Friesian Association of America in 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968; the Distinguished Service Award by the Iowa Holstein Breeders Association in 1972; received Life Membership in Dairy Shrine Club of America by Anderson Erickson Dairy in 1960; Iowa State University Service Key Award in 1982; the Iowa Master Corn Soybean Grower Awards; and Cedar Valley Lamb & Wool Growers Association Hall of Fame in 1987.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Celestine of Grundy Center; one son, Harlen of Milwaukee, WI; two daughters, Sheryl, Mrs. Everett Asmus of Webster City, and Colene Ferrin of Marshalltown; three grandchildren - Brian, Jill and Todd Asmus; and two sisters, Marian Ressler of Clarksville, and Margaret Green of Conrad.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society and the United Methodist Church, Grundy Center.

The Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 21 June 1990, pg 3