Franken, Eldean, Mrs. Arthur J., 1943-2003

FRANKEN, VANKLEY, VANDERMATEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/21/2010 at 06:41:58

Eldean Franken, 60, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Saturday, October 11, at her home following a courageous battle with cancer.

A family service was Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home followed by interment in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service was at 10:30 a.m. at the New Life Reformed Church of Sioux Center with the Rev. Carl Boersma officiating.

Mrs. Franken was born on June 3, 1943, to Arie and Gertrude (Vander Maten) Van Kley in Ashton. She attended school in Sheldon while living with her family on a farm outside of Ashton. She married Arthur J. Franken on July 27, 1961, and moved to a farm five miles south of Sioux Center, where they raised their five children. In 1997, the couple moved into Sioux Center.

She attended Carmel Reformed Church in Carmel for many years until joining New Life Reformed Church in Sioux Center. She was an active member of her church family and loved serving as the church secretary of New Life Reformed Church since 1994. She enjoyed sewing, flowers, her many hours of volunteer work and traveling often to Arizona and Kansas to visit children and grandchildren. Her generous spirit and loving heart will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Survivors include her husband; her children, Melinda Nelson and her husband Scott of Mesa, Arizona, Daryl Franken and his wife Kim of Gilbert, Arizona, Karen Bunkley and her husband Michael of Phoenix, Arizona, Galen Ross Franken and his wife Amy of Overland Park, Kansas, and Bruce Franken and his wife Tonya of Leawood, Kansas; her nine wonderful grandchildren; one sister, Joyce Den Hartog and her husband Elmer of Sheldon; and one brother, Arlin Van Kley and his wife Carol of Sheldon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arie and Gertrude Van Kley.

Source: Sioux Center News, Oct. 15, 2003.