FRANCIS, Keith Franklin 1919-2002
FRANCIS, EILERS, LUNDY
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/6/2009 at 10:19:01
#1:
Keith F. Francis, age 82, of Osage, died on Thursday, August 8, 2002, at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, August 11, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage. The Reverend Christian F. Gugel officiated. Interment was in the Osage Cemetery.
Keith Franklin Francis, was born on August 16, 1919, at the family home in Clear Lake, Iowa, the son of Otha and Wanda (Lundy) Francis. He attended grade school in the Little Cedar Schools until moving to Orchard, where he graduated from high school in 1937. Keith enjoyed playing basketball and baseball in his younger days.
Keith was united in marriage to Lucille Eilers of Osage on February 25, 1940, at the St. John's Lutheran Church rural Osage. He was baptized and confirmed at that church shortly after they were married. They farmed in the New Haven and Mitchell areas for 49 years. They moved to Osage in May of 1982, retiring after Keith suffered a stroke in 1989. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before Lucille passed away in November, 2001.
Keith was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage, was a director on the CO-OP Oil Board for 30 years, serving as President for five years. He served on the Mitchell County Fair Board for many years. He was a long-time Farm Bureau member. He also served on the Mitchell School Board and was President for several years. Keith enjoyed farming and often commented it wasn't work, he enjoyed it. He was extremely proud that his son and grandson are farming the family farm, and liked to take rides to see the livestock and activity on the farm. He rode a few rounds in the combine every fall. Keith and Lucille spent their winter months in Texas and Arizona for many years. His favorite activities included playing cards and cribbage.
Francis was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille on November 13, 2001; and a brother, Melvin Francis.
His survivors include a son, Donald Francis and his wife, Janelle of Mitchell; a daughter, Shirley Rake and her husband, Elwood of Osage; four grandchildren, Doug Rake of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jennifer Kisley and her husband, John of St. Ansgar, Beth Steffensen and her husband, Tony of Des Moines and Jeffrey Francis of St. Ansgar; six great-grandchildren, Andrea, Morgan and Steven Kisley, Mercedes, Elijah and Grace Steffensen; three sisters, Maxine Dostart, Betty Kleckner and Juanita Halvorson of Osage; and a brother, Gerald Francis of Osage.
[ Mitchell County Press - August 14, 2002 ]
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#2:KEITH F. FRANCIS
OSAGE, IOWA - Keith Franklin Francis, 82, of Osage died Thursday (Aug. 8, 2002) at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.
Keith was born Aug. 16, 1919, at the family home in Clear Lake, the son of Otha and Wanda (Lundy) Francis. He attended grade school in the Little Cedar schools until moving to Orchard, where he graduated from high school in 1937. Keith enjoyed playing basketball and baseball in his younger days.
Keith was united in marriage to Lucille Eilers of Osage on Feb. 25, 1940, at St John's Lutheran Church in rural Osage. He was baptized and confirmed at that church shortly after they were married.
They farmed in the New Haven and Mitchell areas for 49 years. They moved to Osage in May 1982, retiring after Keith suffered a stroke in 1989. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before Lucille passed away in November 2001.
Keith was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage, was a director on the Co-op Oil Board for 30 years, serving as president for five years. He served on the Mitchell County Fair Board for many years. He was a longtime Farm Bureau member. He also served on the Mitchell School Board and was president for several years. Keith enjoyed farming and often commented it wasn't work, he enjoyed it.
He was extremely proud that his son and grandson are farming the family farm, and liked to take rides to see the livestock and activity on the farm. He rode a few rounds in the combine every fall.
They spent their winter months in Texas and Arizona for many years. His favorite activities included playing cards and cribbage.
His funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage, with the Rev. Christian F. Gugel officiating. Interment will be in the Osage Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, and one hour before services at the church on Sunday.
He is survived by his son, Donald Francis and his wife, Janelle, of Mitchell; daughter, Shirley Rake and her husband, Elwood, of Osage; four grandchildren, Doug Rake, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jennifer Kisley and her husband, John, of St. Ansgar, Beth Steffensen and her husband, Tony, of Des Moines, and Jeffrey Francis, of St. Ansgar; six great-grand- children, Andrea, Morgan and Steven Kisley and Mercedes, Elijah and Grace Steffensen; three sisters, Maxine Dostart, Betty Kleckner and Juanita Halvorson, of Osage; and brother, Gerald Francis of Osage.
He was preceded by his parents; wife, Lucille, on Nov. 13, 2001; and a brother, Melvin Francis.
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, (641) 732-3706.
[ Globe Gazette, August 9, 2002 ]
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Photo of Keith Francis from Mitchell County Press-News, 11 MAR 1981.
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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