Franks, Yvonne Marie (Chapman) Nelson 1936 - 2021

FRANKS, CHAPMAN, LANTZ, NELSON, REAR, AMUNDSON, LARSEN, REICKS, KEUNE, ARCE, THOMPSON, ZERN, MAILEY, KRIENER, SVESTKA, SAMEC, CROSS, NICHOLS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:25

Yvonne Nelson Franks, 84, passed away Saturday, February 20, 2021, at home following a courageous four-year battle with leiomyosarcoma. Friends may call from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco, Iowa. A private funeral service will be held. Burial will take place at God's Acres Cemetery in Clermont, Iowa.

Yvonne Marie Chapman was born April 30, 1936, to Alice (Lantz) and Ray Chapman. She and her older brother, Bob, grew up in Elgin, Iowa. Yvonne was baptized and confirmed at the Elgin Methodist Church. In the spring of her junior year in high school, the family moved to Clermont, Iowa, where she first saw a cute, freckle-faced young basketball player, Arthur (Bubby) Nelson, Jr., and they were soon inseparable. Art and Yvonne were married at West Clermont Lutheran Church on October 10, 1954, and started their marriage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where their first child, Kathryn, was born. The young family moved to Hudson, Iowa, in 1958, and soon Gary, Karen, Lynn and James followed and their family was complete.

After Art’s early career in the dairy industry, he followed his dream of learning to fly and the family moved to Clermont, Iowa, in 1969 where he was a commercial pilot and flight instructor. Yvonne assisted with bookkeeping and raising their family. Tragically, in 1973, Art was killed in an automobile accident. Although being widowed and a single mother of five at such a young age, Yvonne always provided a safe and happy home for her kids. She always said if she had to raise five children on her own, Clermont was the best place to do it as there were countless friends and relatives to help look after the family.

Yvonne and Richard Franks were married July 13, 1979. Yvonne adjusted to being a farm wife and made many friends in her new community of Cresco. She also became step-mother to Dick’s daughters Barb, Vicky, Julie and Amy.

Dick and Yvonne moved from the farm to their current home in Cresco in 1997 where they enjoyed a retirement of travel and spending time with family and friends. They were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco.

Anyone who knew Yvonne will remember that she had a positive, sunny disposition, a radiant smile and always a kind word. Her children and grandchildren will remember her warm hugs, her constant humming and singing while taking care of her family, her unending support, her warm gingersnaps and delicious potato salad; but, most of all, her legacy of love.

She is survived by her husband Dick; children Kathy (Bob) Rear, Gary (Cindy) Nelson, Karen (Olin) Amundson, Lynn Nelson, Jim (Angela) Nelson; step-daughters Barb (Jim) Larsen, Vicky (Jerry Keune) Reicks, Julie (Jim) Arce, and Amy (Chris) Thompson; grandchildren Bryan Rear, Kaitlin Zern, Dan Nelson, David Nelson, Tim Amundson, Alec Amundson, Michael Nelson, Chloe Nelson and Lauren Nelson; Bryan Mailey, Stephanie Kriener Jenny Svestka, Chris Samec, Jessica Reicks, Adam Samec (deceased), Joey Cross, Joshua Cross, Donnie Nichols and Megan Thompson. Between Yvonne and Dick, they were proud to have 19 great-children.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home database

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