Ites, Franklin Bernard (1932-2014)

ITES, NELSON, WARTNABY, AKERS, SWALWELL, FEES, BRUNDIGE, ULRICH, LUIKEN, BAILEY, CARUTH

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/10/2020 at 09:57:06

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, February 11, 2014/Linns Funeral Home website

Franklin Ites, 81, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2014, at the North Iowa Mercy Medical Center, Mason City, Iowa. Memorial services for Franklin Ites will be 11:00 am Friday, February 14, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church, 619 Main Street, Iowa Falls, Iowa. A time of visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday, February 13th at Linn's Funeral Home, 1521 Washington Avenue, Iowa Falls, Iowa. A Masonic Memorial service will be held at 7:00 pm also Thursday at the funeral home. Private family burial will be held at a later date in the Northlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery, Iowa Falls. Military Honors will be provided by the Hyman-Peavey American Legion Post # 188, Iowa Falls. Memorials may be directed to the family c/o his wife: Marlys Ites, 14394 Highway 65 South, Lot 74, Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126. The Linn's Funeral Homes Iowa Falls Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Franklin Bernard Ites was born June 14, 1932, at his parent's home in Grant Township, Franklin County, Iowa the son of Ben Harm and Ethel Linea [Nelson] Ites. He attended the Beaver Valley School until moving south of Iowa Falls on a farm, where he attended Ellis Township School. He graduated from the Iowa Falls High School with the class of 1951. While in high school he played football, Wrested, and was in the FFA. Following high school he went to work for Brown Oil Co. in Waterloo, Iowa. In March of 1952 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Following basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California as an Air Force Policeman.

On October 16, 1955, Franklin was united in marriage to the love of his life; Marlys W. Wartnaby Akers at the First United Methodist Church, Iowa Falls. They returned to California while Franklin completed his enlistment in March of 1956. Returning to Iowa Falls, Franklin worked different jobs; working for Standard Oil, Elkin Truck Lines, Case Power and Equipment, and was also a reserve police officer for Iowa Falls. In 1969, he became a fulltime police officer for 10 years and then worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation for 14 years. Following his open heart surgery he took early retirement. Franklin was a person that always wanted to keep busy so he drove truck and worked for Farm Service in the spring and fall. He also escorted bridge beams.

After Marlys retired they spent their summers in Minnesota where he enjoyed fishing, camping, and garage sales with his Minnesota friends. Franklin was a member of the Owasa United Methodist Church; Secretary and member of Masons Home Lodge #192, Iowa Falls, and the Zag-Ga-Zig Shrine, Des Moines.

Franklin is survived by his wife: Marlys Ites of Iowa Falls; his son: Kevin Ites of Iowa Falls; his daughter: Lorcene Swalwell and son-in-law Steve of Maxwell, Iowa; granddaughters: Jessica [Travis] Fees of Iowa Falls, Amber [Dillon] Brundige of Thor, Iowa, Jennifer Swalwell of Maxwell; two great grandchildren: April and Mathew Fees of Iowa Falls; a special cousin: Grace [ Leown] Ulrich of Iowa Falls; and two sisters: Frances Luiken of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, and Janice [Tom] Bailey of Iowa Falls.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Ben and Ethel Ites; and his mother-in-law and fathers-in-law: Dartle and Virgil Caruth and Walter Akers.