Franken, Johannes ("Joe"), 1920-2007

FRANKEN, ZOMERMAAND, KOSTERS, MILLER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/26/2010 at 20:58:05

Johannes "Joe" Franken, 86, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Lebanon, died Sunday, March 18, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake. Services were 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Peace Lutheran Church in rural Sioux Center with the Rev. Dan Kordahl officiating. Burial was in Peace Lutheran Cemetery.

Franken was born December 14, 1920, on the family homestead east of Sioux Center. His parents, Arie and Anna (Zomermaand Kosters) Franken, were born in the Netherlands. He attended rural public and church schools in the area and later worked several years at his step-brother's E. J. Koster's Machine Shop before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1941. He was proud of his four years of service primarily spent aboard ships in the Pacific. His tour of duty included sea battle for Midway Island and Guadalcanal. His heavy cruiser, USS Vincennes, was torpedoed and sunk near Savo Island in August 1942, for which chief petty officer Franken received the Purple Heart Medal.

He married Ruth Emma Miller on May 4, 1944, at Peace Lutheran Church in rural Sioux Center, Iowa. After his honorable discharge from the service, the couple lived west of Sioux Center in Lebanon, where they raised their children and owned Lebanon Farm Shop for 57 years. The couple moved to Spirit Lake in 2003. His wife died May 3, 2005.

He was a 61-year member of the American Legion, the USS Vincennes Survivors, and Peace Lutheran Church. Through the years, he enjoyed operating motorcycles or any type of vehicle. He also enjoyed traveling coast to coast with his family during summer vacations and was proud of all his children and grandkids, sharing stories and photos with anyone he met along the way.

He is survived by two sons, Daniel (Donna) Franken and Capt. Michael (Jordan) Franken, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia; daughters, Rebecca (Dave) Jauquet of Boise, Idaho, Priscilla Franken of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Martha (Jim) Nodland of Spirit Lake, Dorcas (LT) Donovan of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Diana (Thurston) Crawford of Mankato, Minnesota; 18 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a brother, Henry (Delia) Franken of Sioux Center.

He was also preceded in death by a son, Phillip; a daughter, Rachel; a brother, Everett; and a sister, Lucile Wierda.

Memorials may be directed to the Sioux Center or Rock Valley American Legion.

Source: Sioux Center News, March 21, 2007.