FRANCIS, Donald W. (1914-1993)

FRANCIS, PRATT, DAVIS, RILLEY, GRAM, BUCHANAN

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society (email)
Date: 7/30/2014 at 12:13:00

Donald W. Francis

BRITT - Donald W. Francis, 78, of Britt, died Tuesday (March 30, 1993) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital, Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Ewing Funeral Chapel, Britt. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Britt. Graveside military rites will be conducted by the VFW and the Britt American Legion Post.

Visitation will begin after 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Donald W. Francis was born Apr. 29, 1914, on a farm across from the Twin Lakes outside of Kanawha, the son of Fred and Emma (Pratt) Francis. He spent his childhood in the Goodell and Belmond areas. He also attended school in Claremont, Minn.

He married Cleo Davis of Peoria, Ill., on May 6, 1935, in Britt. He worked 17 campaigns in the laboratory at the sugar beet plant in Mason City and 13 years at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Ill., as a maintenance foreman. In later years they made their home in Faribault, Minn., and Britt.

In May of 1944 he entered World War II in the service of the medical corps. He later transferred to an armored infantry division where he received the Purple Heart. He served in the Battle of the Bulge and at the bridge of Remagen.

Survivors include his wife, Cleo, of Britt; four sons, Dalton E. and his wife, Charlene, of Eden Prairie, Minn., William P. and his friend, Helen Rilley, Ellenton, Fla., James F. Francis and Darlene Francis of Faribault, Minn., John L. and his wife, Kathy, of Britt; two sisters, Edna Gram of Clarion, and Hazel Buchanan, Bartonville, Ill.; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and two brothers.

published 31 Mar 1993