FRANCIS, Lucille Winnifred (Eilers) 1921-2001

FRANCIS, NEWLON, EILERS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/13/2011 at 14:15:55

LUCILLE 'EILERS' FRANCIS

OSAGE, IOWA - Lucille W. Francis, 80, of Osage, died Tuesday (Nov. 13, 2001) at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

Lucille Winnifred Eilers was born January 10, 1921 in Floyd County, the daughter of Tjark and Ruth (Newlon) Eilers. She was baptized and confirmed at the St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Osage. She was educated in a rural school in Floyd County. Lucille graduated from Orchard High School in 1938, as salutatorian of her class.

Lucille was united in marriage to Keith Francis of New Haven on February 25, 1940. They farmed in the New Haven and Mitchell areas for 49 years. They moved to Osage in May of 1982, retiring in 1989, after Keith suffered a stroke. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this year.

She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage and served in several offices on local and zone levels in Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

She enjoyed working with youth and was a 4-H Leader for 20 years. She was chosen Iowa Merit Mother of the Year in 1966.

She enjoyed reading, crocheting, and playing cards with friends and neighbors. They spent their winter months in Texas and Arizona for many years.

Her funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at he Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage with the Rev. Christian F. Gugel officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage and continue one hour before services at the church.

She is survived by her husband, Keith Francis, of Osage; 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 New Orleans, La., 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, and Mercedes, Elijah, and Grace Stevensen; and a brother, Lee Eilers, of Jacksonville, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Marie Eilers Love, of California; and a brother, Dean Eilers, of Mason City.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, (641) 732-3706.

Mason City Globe Gazette