Donald Fred Franzenburg, 08 Aug 1939 - 12 Jan 2023

FRANZENBURG, HOLST, EALY, STEINBECK, HESS, HAACK, LETTOW, MULLAN, SENNE

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/18/2023 at 14:56:11

Donald Fred Franzenburg, 83, died Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center in Keystone, Iowa.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, January 17th, at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, IA. Reverend David Lingard will officiate. Internment will follow at the Keystone Cemetery. Lunch will be served afterwards at the church. Visitation will be Monday, January 16th, from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone. Memorials can be made in Don’s name to Keystone Nursing Care Center.

Don was born on the family farm on August 8, 1939, in Benton County, Iowa, the son of Otto and Lola (Holst) Franzenburg. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church, Keystone, where he was a life-long and active member. Following graduation from Keystone High School in 1957, Don joined the National Guard, serving for six years. Don also attended business school.

He was united in marriage to Patricia Ealy on September 12, 1964, at Christ United Methodist Church in Belle Plaine, Iowa.

Don loved being a farmer and especially enjoyed all aspects of swine production from farrow to finish. He was one of the first to put up a confinement finishing unit in Benton County. He was inducted into the Benton County Pork Producers' Hall of Fame in 2007. Don was proud to call Keystone his home and was active in serving his community on the Keystone Savings Bank board, the Keystone Mercantile board, and in various leadership roles at his church. He was one of a group of three men that originated the creation of the Keystone Nursing Care Center and served on its board of directors continuously for over 47 years. Don’s quiet faith and leadership enriched the lives of his family and community. Don relished foraging for wild (ditch) asparagus and the informal competition with his neighbors of getting the freshest cut. In the spring, visitors often found that a bag of rhubarb and asparagus had accompanied them home.

In his spare time, Don enjoyed bowling, playing cards, reading about the farm industry, and keeping abreast of current events. Above all, he cherished spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Once he was diagnosed with cancer he spent as much time as possible with family. He enjoyed conversations, listening, and delivering witty one liners or thoughtful commentary.

Survivors include his devoted wife Pat; their four children—Eric (Ann) of Van Horne, Kristi (John) Steinbeck of Bellevue, IA, Damian (Deb) Franzenburg of Ames, IA, and Rebecca (Mark) Hess of Overland Park, KS; grandchildren Ellen, Calvin, and Grant Franzenburg, Abraham, William, and Benjamin Steinbeck, Molly and Ryan Franzenburg, and Charlotte, Elise, and Corrine Hess; his sister Phyllis Haack of Marengo, IA, Linda (Dennis) Lettow of West Des Moines, IA, and Connie (John) Mullan of Cedar Falls, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law Anita and Don Senne, brother Raymond, and brother-in-law Russell Haack.

The family wishes to thank Pastor David Lingard, Dr. Chirantan Ghosh and his staff at Compass Memorial Hospital in Marengo, the staff at Keystone Care Center, and Hospice of Compassus for the dedicated care of Don’s body and soul at the end of his life.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Published in The Gazette on January 14, 2023.