Gloria Mae (Dahl) Franz (1943-2014)

FRANZ, DAHL, BENNINGER, MEYER, VANROEKEL, RABIN, BREKKE, SCHMELING, WELTHA

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/14/2015 at 12:45:07

Obituary from Memorial Services of Iowa, Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa:

Gloria Mae Franz, 71, of Huxley, unexpectedly passed away of heart failure on Aug. 31, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Thurs., Sept. 4, at New Hope Assembly of God in Urbandale (6800 Townsend Ave.). A visitation will be held 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wed., Sept. 3, at Memorial Services of Iowa in Ankeny (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.).

Gloria was born June 6, 1943, in Algona, IA, to Oscar and Dorothy (Benninger) Dahl. She graduated from Ames High School in 1961. She married Meredith (Mert) Franz in Jewell, IA, on July 28, 1962. Their 1st child, Colleen, was born in Hawaii while he served in the Navy. They moved to Washington, D.C. where Mert served in the CIA and their 2nd child, Connie, was born. They returned to their roots in Iowa, where they had their 3rd daughter, Corrine. They made their home in Huxley, where they lived for 46 years in the same house.

Gloria enjoyed being a wife and homemaker. Mert and Gloria always had their house open to church friends and family, where she always more than enough food and laughter! She made her home a refuge for many…lots of ISU students and wrestlers, as well as many oppressed and needy people. She did this her whole life, even after her husband of 40 years passed away. She loved to minister, encourage, and disciple people until the day she died! Many people sought and appreciated her listening ear and wise advice. All of her answers came from the Bible, which was her guide.

She was always a hard-worker. Her huge garden provided an abundance of food for all her friends; she was canning green beans the day before she died. She also loved serving her loyal customers at Friedrich's Coffee (Gary and Colleen's) and baked her homemade kringle for 22 years for them.

Family was her focus; she loved time with Colleen, Connie, and Corrine and their families, along with huge, fun Dahl family reunions. She loved investing in the lives of her cherished 10 grandchildren; ages 10-24.

She loved church! She went to 3… 1st Assembly in DM, New Hope Assembly in Urbandale, and Victory Church in Jewell.

Gloria is survived by and will be greatly missed by her 3 daughters, Colleen (Gary) Meyer of Urbandale, Connie (Jon) VanRoekel of Adel, Corrine Rabin of Phoenix, AZ, 10 grandchildren; Daniel, Malia, Sammy, and Andrew Meyer; Luke, Joe, and Michelle VanRoekel; Gabriella, Austin, and Faith Rabin; siblings, Irene (Jim) Brekke, Bernie (Beth) Dahl, James (Linda) Dahl, Bev (Bob) Schmeling, and Karen (Michael) Weltha; and many valuable nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a fund being established by her family.

http://www.memorialservicesofiowa.com/
 

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