Francis C. Ream 1924-2011

REAM, ANDREWS, ROSS, BORTON, COX

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/30/2011 at 07:20:41

Francis C. Ream, 86
March 30, 2011

Francis C. (Frank) Ream, 86, of State Center, passed away at State Center Manor on March 28, 2011 after a courageous two year battle with lung cancer.

Francis was born in Keosauqua, Iowa, August 17, 1924 the son of Halsey C. and Dorothy Andrews Ream.

At a young age the family moved to central Iowa. He graduated from Liscomb High School in 1942.

During WWII, he served in the US Navy at Naval Air Station, Attu, Alaska.

Upon his discharge, he was united in marriage to Doris Ross of Clemons at the Clemons Congregational Church on June 2, 1946. They made their home in Clemons, Gladbrook and State Center.

Ream was a longtime member of the State Center Lions Club.

He was a Mason and achieved the distinction of the 32rd degree.

He was a lifetime member of the Bangor Liberty Friends Church.

As a board member, he participated in the early establishment and development of the Lincoln Valley Golf Course near State Center.

Ream loved people and cultivated many long and special friendships the State Center morning coffee group, Scat bunch, and especially those Blooming Idiots.

He enjoyed so much a game of golf, watching sports on TV, any type of cards, a glass of wine with friends, crossword puzzles, Big Band and Dixieland music.

He rooted for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Iowa State Cyclones much to the chagrin of his Chicago Cub and Iowa Hawkeye grandchildren.

Ream took pleasure and pride in Ream clan growing to 29 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren spanning four generations.

Family gatherings became a special time with lots of love and chaos.

Preceding him in death were his sisters Pat (Ron) Martin and Ann (Don) Worfield and one brother in infancy.

Left to cherish his memory is his devoted wife of 64 years, Doris and his children: Nancy (David) Borton, Ginny Johnson, Shari (Edward) Cox all of Marshalltown, and Hal (Linda) Ream of Urbandale; nine grandchildren: Kimberly (Jim Wilson) Johnson, Joshua (Jane) Borton, Ryan Ream, Cameron (Cassius Cooper) Ream, Douglas Cox, Jacob Borton, Brandon Ream, Elizabeth (Ryan) Gilliland and Lydia Givens and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Ream will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 31, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown where his family will be present to greet friends.

Funeral services will be held on 1:30 pm on Friday, April 1, at the State Center United Methodist Church, 125 Second Street SE, State Center, Iowa.

Burial will follow at the Bangor Friends Cemetery, Union, Iowa.

The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Frank and his family.

A memorial fund is being established.

Source: Times-Republican, Marshalltown, IA