Bortscheller, Francis J. 1911-2003

BORTSCHELLER, HEISSEL, BERNS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer
Date: 4/14/2007 at 14:00:25

OYENS, Iowa -- Francis J. Bortscheller, 92, Oyens native and lifelong resident, died peacefully Friday afternoon, April 11, 2003, at Happy Siesta Nursing Home in Remsen, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Oyens, with the Rev. Richard R. Remmes officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today, with a Scriptural wake service at 7:30 p.m., at Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa.

Mr. Bortscheller was born April 2, 1911, at Oyens, the son of John and Josephine (Heissel) Bortscheller. He grew up in Oyens and attended St. Catherine's Parochial School. Francis belonged to the Iowa National Guard, Co. D, during World War II.

He married Isabelle Berns at Garnavillo, Iowa, in 1948. For a number of years, he operated a feed and farm supply store. The couple were engaged in farming in the Oyens area until their retirement in 1982, when they moved into Oyens. His wife, Isabelle died Sept. 28, 1996.

Francis was a lifelong member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church and an active member of the Oyens Columbus Club. In the early 1950s, he was active in organizing the Floyd Valley Watershed Association.

Survivors include four sons and their wives, Lee and LaVaughn Bortscheller of Independence, Ky., Robert and Carol Bortscheller of Oklahoma City, Okla., Joe and Pam Bortscheller of Tulsa, Okla., and Frank and Sara Bortscheller of Flemington, N.J.; two daughters, Marilyn Hammack and her husband, Charles of Lawton, Iowa, and Jane Woodward of South Sioux City; and 10 grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by an infant son, John; an adopted granddaughter, Colleen; his parents; three brothers, Henry, Al and Steve Bortscheller; and a sister, Grace Piorowski.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection; source:Sioux City Journal]