Brannon, Frank William -- 1923 - 2000

HAMILTON, BRANNON, JOHNSON, BRUNCH

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 7/30/2010 at 20:35:09

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, June 27, 2000

Frank William Brannon

Frank William Brannon, 76, of Ossian, died Sunday, June 18, 2000, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis., following a lingering illness.

Funeral services were held Thursday, June 22, at 11 a.m., at the Stavanger Lutheran Church of rural Ossian, with the Rev. Cindy Arndt officiating.

Elaine Knutson was the organist. Soloist Don DiLaura sang "The Old, Rugged Cross" and "Beyond the Sunset." The congregation sang "How Great Thou Art" and "Take My Life That I May Be."

Casket bearers were Adrian Lofte, Charles Knutson, Kurt Uhlenhake, Mark Knutson, Cletus Birdsell, Ronald Knutson, Dennis Hageman and Don
Wendlandt.

Honorary bearers were Carol Wendlandt, Gerhard and Lilia Tinderholt, Lloyd and Arleta Stensland, and Art and Frieda Linderbaum. Members of the Brockman-Hammersland American Legion Post No. 503 were also in attendance.

Interment was at the Stavanger Cemetery. The Schmitz Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Frank was born Dec. 6, 1923, in New Lexington, Ohio, the son of Melvin C. and Lula (Hamilton) Brannon.

He obtained his education in the New Lexington Schools and graduated from New Lexington High School.

He entered the United States Army Feb. 11, 1943, and served during World War II until his honorable discharge Jan. 15, 1946. While serving in the Southern Philippines, Ryukyus Campaigns, he earned the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Service Medal. He held the rank of Technician 5th Grade in Company "A"' 7th Medical Battalion 7th Division.

On Jan. 6, 1946, he was united in marriage to Selma T. Johnson at Salem Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois. Two daughters were born to this union.

Before moving to Ossian 21 years ago, Frank and Selma resided in North Park, Illinois, Crystal Lakes, Illinois, Naperville, Illinois and Indianola. Frank was employed as water superintendent for these cities. He retired from this position in 1978.

Upon his retirement, Frank, and Selma moved to the Ossian community.

They owned and operated the Ossian Laundromat and "Uncle Frank's" popcorn vending business. Popping popcorn in Ossian and neighboring
towns was a hobby for Frank.

He was a member of Stavanger Lutheran Church and the Decorah Lions Club. While living in North Park, Illinois, he served on the North Park Volunteer Fire Dept., was a member of AWWA and Mid-Central WWA (Water Department Association), and held various positions in these organizations.

Survivors include his wife, Selma of Ossian; two daughters, Joyce Brannon of Chicago, and Janet and Joseph Brunch of Piano, Texas; a grandson, Jon Steinway of Piano, Texas; a sister-in-law, Ann Brannon of Jacksonville, Fla., a niece, Diane Lang; and two nephews, John Brannon and Lee Brannon.

Frank Brannon was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, John M. Brannon and Herman Brannon, who died in infancy.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.