Franken, Henry A., 1917-2007

FRANKEN, WIERDA, ZOMERMAAND, KOSTERS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/24/2010 at 23:36:50

Henry A. Franken, 90, of Sioux Center died Monday, December 3, at his residence at Crown Pointe Assisted Living in Sioux Center. A memorial service was Friday at 11 a.m. at Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center with the Rev. R. Van Rathbun officiating. Interment was in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Franken was born July 8, 1917, to Anna (Zomermaand) Kosters and Arie Franken at their homestead farm east of Sioux Center, located on the north side of Sandy Hollow Road. He attended country school and the Sioux Center Christian School. In 1930, when he was 13 years old, the family moved into a newly built home in Sioux Center. As a young man he worked for 14 years as an apprentice at the Henry Niessink Rural Auto and Tractor Repair. On July 8, 1942, he married Delia Wierda in Sioux Center. He served his country in the Army during WW II as a part of the European Theater from 1943-1945. After his return he owned a repair business and Hudson dealership for a few years. From 1953-54 he worked with the Los Angeles California Sanitation Department. The couple moved back to Sioux Center and Henry went to work for Mouw Motor Company until his retirement in 1978. He also drove a school bus for Sioux Center Community Schools for many years.

He was a longtime member of Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

Survivors are his wife of 65 years, Delia of Sioux City; three daughters, Mary Swartout of Sioux City, Lois Madland and her husband Brian of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Ruth Van Buskirk and her husband, Kelly of Sioux City; four grandchildren; sister-in-law, Dollie Franken of Redlands, California; sister-in-law, Lucille Wierda of Orange City; brother-in-law, John G. A. Van Rockel of Sioux Center; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Reynold and Peg Wierda of Mesa, Arizona, and Marvin and Lorraine Wierda of Sioux Center; sisters-in-law, Frieda Wierda of Sioux Center and Myrtle Kiel and her husband Clarence of Orange City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by infant son, Dennis; sister, Lucille Wierda; brothers, Everett Franken and Joe Franken; half-brothers, Gerrit Franken and E. John Kosters; half-sisters, Artie Jacobsma and Ella Brantsen Mulder; brothers-in-law, George Bakker, Thomas, Lewis and Bernard Wierda; sisters-in-law, Henrietta Parsonson, Jane Eva Duits and Martha Van Roekel.

The Franken family prefers memorials be directed to the Central Reformed Church Building Fund.

Source: Sioux Center News, Dec. 12, 2007.
The obituary includes a photograph.