Frank Wesley TOURTELOTTE

TOURTELOTTE, GERLACH, RING, RIPLEY, SHARP, HENDLEY, GLASCO, GATES, BRADT, BOETTNER, RAMSEY, OKELLEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/27/2012 at 23:13:51

August 14, 1921 ---- February 20, 2012

The Lord came to take Frank Wesley Tourtelotte home on Monday, February 20, 2012. He had spent the weekend with family, and was enjoying the day when the Lord came calling at 2:35 p.m. His family mourns their loss, but is joyful that he is with his Lord and with the family members that have preceded him.

Frank Wesley Tourtelotte, was born on August 14, 1921, in the farmhouse where he lived most of his life. The joyful parents were Charles Floyd and Susie Ann (Gerlach) Tourtelotte of Cornelia. Grandparents included Charles Edwin and Olive Ann (Ring) Tourtelotte of Tabor, Iowa and John and Lucy Ann (Ripley) Gerlach of Pierre, South Dakota. Frank was the fifth child of the family and grew up in the farming life, enjoying the work and the lifestyle. He attended the Grant Township #5 school and the Clarion High School.

Frank married Phyllis Maxine Sharp on February 6, 1944. They set up their house on the family farm east of Lake Cornelia where Frank was farming. To their union 4 children were born, Linda Sue, Katherine Joanne, Brian Claire and Lisa Kaye. They were active in the community, including the Congregational Church in Clarion and the Missionary Alliance Church of Blairsburg, 4-H Clubs, and Farm Bureau. Music was a great part of their lives and they enjoyed participation in the Clarion Community Chorus, summer town band concerts, singing in church choirs, and were charter members of the Clarion Choralaires. Frank had said he always wanted to play the drums, but his parents thought they would be too loud.

Frank was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Phyllis on September 6, 2002; his parents; his brothers, Charles and George; and his sister, Lucile. He is survived by his sister, Mary of Howell, Michigan; daughters, Linda (John) Hendley, Kathy (Steve) Glasco and Lisa (Bradley) Gates; his son, Brian (Jo); 12 grandchildren, Christin (Tim) Bradt, Alauna (Todd) Boettner, Travis (Marissa) Ramsey, Brian (Joy) Glasco, Jim Glasco, Brandon (Natalie) Tourtelotte, Maryn Tourtelotte, Leanna (Kinch) O'Kelley, Benjamin, Katherine "Katie" and Josiah Gates; 10 great-grandchildren, the latest Skyler Joseph Glasco was born on February 19, 2012; and by many in-laws, nieces, nephews and close friends; he loved them all.

With the assurance of his salvation, we know that Frank is in heaven with his Lord and family members. A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 25, at the Missionary Alliance Church in Blairsburg, and his ashes were laid to rest in the Clarion Evergreen Cemetery next to those of Phyllis. The family expresses their thanks for all the well-wishes of friends.

March 1, 2012
Wright County Monitor - Clarion, Iowa