Kerr, Francis M. Sr. 1927-2005

KERR, POWERS, BYERS, MEYTHALER, WALLACE, FOSTER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/24/2010 at 08:40:44

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) July 11, 2005

FRANCIS M. KERR SR.

Francis M. Kerr Sr., 77, of Grinnell died Friday, July 8, at his home.

A funeral service for Francis Kerr Sr. will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, at the Smith Funeral Home, with Susan Leathem, chaplain of Grinnell Regional Hospice, officiating. Burial will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Friends may call at the funeral home starting at noon Tuesday; the family will be present at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. that day.

He was born on Aug. 22, 1927, in Knoxville, Iowa, to John and Maude Powers Kerr. He was raised there and graduated from Knoxville High School with the class of 1947.

On Oct. 16, 1948, he married Ardith L. Byers in Knoxville, where they lived before moving to Oskaloosa, Newton and finally Grinnell in 1953. He worked in the food service, building and grounds and security departments at Grinnell College for 40 years.

He was a supporter of the American Cancer Society and enjoyed traveling, woodworking, bowling and computers.

He is survived by his children, Judith Meythaler, Francis M. Kerr Jr., Linda Kerr, James L. Kerr and Theresa Wallace, all of Grinnell, Eileen Kerr and Ronald Kerr of Des Moines; Brian Kerr of O'Fallon, Mo., and Rhonda Foster of Altoona; 22 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two sons, Steven and Garry Kerr; and two brothers, John and Richard Kerr.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society.