Elliott, Frank K. "Bennie" 1935-2016

ELLIOTT, REECE, WEHMEYER, THORNTON, MILLER, ZAISER, VINCENT, PALLISTER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/15/2016 at 20:56:40

Frank K. Elliott
1935 - 2016

Frank K. Elliott 81, of Newton, died November 16, 2016 at home. An informal celebration of life will be held Friday, December 2, 2016 from 4 to 6 pm at the Coralville American Legion Post 721 Community Room.

Frank (Bennie) Elliott was born September 19, 1935 in Plattsmouth, Nebraska to Bernice Irene (Reece) and Richard Elliott. The family moved to Grandview Iowa and later Columbus Junction, Iowa where Frank graduated from Columbus Community high school in 1953.

Frank served in the US Army from 1953-56 and part of that time he was stationed in Berlin, Germany, a time he spoke of often with stories about guard duty at the Berlin Wall.

In March 1960 Frank married Kathleen Joyce Wehmeyer. They were divorced in 1996.

After completing an apprenticeship and community college Frank worked as a tool and die maker for over 45 years for several different companies in Iowa, to include McKee Button and Thatcher Plastic Packaging in Muscatine; General Electric in Iowa City; and Maytag in Newton. Frank was a people person as well as a skilled tradesman, and some of Frank's fondest memories were moonlighting as a bartender at Kingsbury Inn in Fredonia, Iowa in the 1970s.

Frank enjoyed sports of all kinds, especially the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes; WWII history and history of the American Presidents; country and popular music from the 1950s; and classic American cars.

Frank is survived by his three daughters Krista Thornton and husband Eric Thornton of Wellman, Iowa; Kerrie Sue Miller and husband Richard Miller of Cosgrove, Iowa; and Lea Elliott of Ellsworth, Maine; three grandchildren Gannon Zaiser of Tucson, Arizona; Sean Thornton of North Liberty, Iowa; and Kelsey (Brian) Vincent of Amana Iowa; and one great-grandson Knox Vincent. Frank is also survived by one brother Larry (Susie) Elliott.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister Susan Pallister and one brother Karl Elliott.

Frank was a good provider, a hard worker, a joke teller, and fast driver. ~ The Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City, Iowa 22 NOv 2016.