Kingsbury, Francis A. "Fran" 1922-2022

KINGSBURY, NIELSEN, CHRISTIANSEN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/9/2022 at 09:14:40

Francis A. ‘Fran’ Kingsbury, a few months short of being 100, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at Unity Point, St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, IA after a short illness. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Ponca State Park Resource & Education Center in Ponca, Nebraska with Reverend Debra Welch officiating. Burial will follow at Ponca City Cemetery. Visitation, with the family present, will be on Monday, January 17th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the community’s Better Ponca Foundation for the Community Improvement Endowment Fund.

He was born June 7, 1922 to Francis R. and Kathinca (Nielsen) Kingsbury at a Sioux City, Iowa hospital. Fran lived his entire life in Ponca where he graduated from Ponca High School in 1939. He graduated with a business degree from Morningside College in Sioux City in 1943.

He met Vernice J. Christiansen at Morningside College and they were married in Hawarden, IA on June 13, 1944. Fran and Vernice celebrated their 77 years of marriage with the family at their traditional Fourth of July gathering last summer. To this marriage three children were born: two sons James A. and John F. and a daughter Cynthia Jean. Following three years of active duty during WWII serving in the US Army Quartermaster Corps as personnel manager of an officer clothing store in Paris, France; Fran returned to Ponca to join his family’s banking interests. During his more than seventy-year involvement with the Bank of Dixon County he served as both President and Chairman of the Board for many years.

Fran offered his support and involvement in many community organizations including American Legion Chapelle Post 117, Ponca Community Club, Better Ponca Foundation, Ponca Community Educational Foundation, the Sioux City Camera Club, SCCC, N4C, the Photographic Society of America, PSA, Boy Scout Troop 200 and having been a member of the Ponca Public School Board.

Mr. Kingsbury, FPSA, nurtured a lifelong interest in photography during his more than 65 years as a member of the SCCC, N4C and PSA. Having first been elected an Associate, APSA, in the Photographic Society of America; he was elevated in 1972 as Fellow, FPSA, in the international photographic society. Fran was a co-founder of the regional nine state North Central Camera Club Council, N4C, along with Dr. Robert Cochran, APSA, of Omaha, NE and Curtis Lugg, FPSA, of Sioux Falls, SD.

He was an international print exhibitor having more than 1,500 prints shown throughout the United States and many foreign countries. While he was specializing in wildlife subject matter, he was listed in the top ten nature exhibitors in the world and received the highest Five Star PSA rating. Turning to digital photography in 2002, he moved to other subject matter including landscapes, sports, portraits and contemporary photography.

Survivors include: his spouse Vernice of 77 years, his two sons and their wives – Jim and Gwen Kingsbury and John and Myra Kingsbury of Ponca and a daughter Cindy and her husband Larry McManis of Stoughton, WI.; four grandchildren and their spouses – Chris Kingsbury and Abbey of Ponca, Greg McManis and Sarah, Sarah and Josh Hoesch, Kristen and Brad Horst all of Oregon, WI; and seventeen great grandchildren: Logan, Carter, Ashlyn, Sam, Henry and Archie of Ponca; Isabella, Alexis, Jaxson and McKenzie; Haley, Lydia, Wyatt and Luke; Sadie, Felicity and Ben all of Oregon, WI; sister, Lovice M. Sprugel of Kansas City, MO and many nieces and nephews.

Fran was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law John E. Sprugel, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Maynard and Grace Christiansen, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Leola and Dr. Alex Bushmer; granddaughter Jenny, other family members and countless friends.

Source: Meyer Brothers Funeral Chapel online obituary.