Stortz, Leona M. (Frana) 1929 - 2014

STORTZ, FRANA, KUHN, JOHNSON, RYNO, SOBOLIK, HAYEK, FERRIE, SWEENEY, MASHEK, WELSCHER, BAHR

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/7/2014 at 16:46:23

Leona was born February 26, 1929 on the family farm in rural Lime Springs, Iowa to George and Celia (Kuhn) Frana. She graduated from the Riceville High School and then received her teaching certificate from Luther College in Decorah. She taught in one-room schoolhouses in Howard County. On June 7, 1961 she married Joseph Stortz at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes, Iowa. The couple farmed in Newburg Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota until moving to Canton in 1992. Joe later passed away on October 19, 2001. In 2009 she moved to Shorewood Commons and had resided there since. She was a member of the St. Olaf Catholic Church in Mabel and its Altar Society. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, embroidery, needle point, baking, church activities, listening to polka music, watching parades, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and especially spending time with her family.

Leona passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February, 2, 2014 at the Shorewood Commons Assisted Living in Rochester at the age of 84.

Leona is survived by five children Leroy (Melissa) of Rochester, Jim (Julie) of Mabel, Marian (Mark) Johnson of Eagan, Minnesota, and Carolyn (Kevin) Ryno , and Shirley (Jerry) Sobolik both of Rochester; sixteen grandchildren Zachary, Ashley, Jeremy, Avery, Erica, Melissa, Sarina, Syeirra, Daniel, Kate, Alex, Jennifer, Nathan, Samantha, Dalton, and Kristina; three great grandchildren Charley, Max, and Emmett; five brothers and sisters Sylvia Hayek of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, Gladys Ferrie of Kendallville Iowa, Eileen (Pat) Sweeney of Elma, Iowa, Lawrence Frana of Lime Springs, and David (Jackie) Frana of Walker, Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe; a sister Marie Mashek and her husband, Alvin; brother-in-laws Ray Ferrie, Ray Hayek, and Harley Welscher, Sr.; and sister-in-laws Virginia Stortz and Mary Lou Bahr.

Funeral Mass will be 11 AM Thursday, February 6, 2014 at the St. Olaf Catholic Church in Mabel with Monsignor Paul Heiting officiating. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Canton. Visitation will be 4 – 7 PM Wednesday, February 5, at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel with the Rosary at 6:45 PM and one hour prior to services at the church.

Source: Mengis Funeral Home database