Advertisement

Richard D. “Dick” Franks

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Richard D. “Dick” Franks, 92, of Oelwein died on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 30, 2020, at the Grandview Health Care Center, Oelwein.

Visitation was Friday, Oct. 2, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and before the service at the church on Saturday.

Funeral services were Saturday, Oct. 3, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, conducted by Rev. Gary Hatcher.

Interment was at Garnavillo Cemetery, Garnavillo.

Military services were held at the funeral home Friday evening by the Oelwein American Legion Ross Reid Post #9.

Richard David Franks was born on Sept. 22, 1928, in rural Elkport, the son of Amos Franks and Ida Belle (Smith) Groth Franks. Dick was raised on farms in Clayton County. He received his education at the Elkport Country School and then graduated from Elkader High School in the class of 1947. After graduation, Dick worked on his uncle’s farm until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951. He served in Korea as a radio operator for 19 months, until February of 1953. Dick worked for a short time at John Deere in Dubuque and Waterloo. He was then the seventh man hired at the new Donaldson Company in Oelwein. After moving to Oelwein, Dick met Donna Mae Stade at a dance at the Oelwein Coliseum. They were united in marriage on Oct. 23, 1957, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garnavillo by the Rev. L.C. Urlaub. Dick and Donna were blessed with two sons, Kent and Kurt. Dick retired from Donaldson’s after working there for 35-½ years. Following retirement, Dick worked for AgVantage FS for several years and as a custodian for the Oelwein Community Schools for six years. 

Dick was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garnavillo and the Oelwein American Legion Ross Reid Post #9. Dick and Donna were vendors at craft shows for many years.

Dick is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna Franks of Oelwein; two sons, Kent (Sandra) Franks of St. Olaf and Kurt (Donna) Franks of Postville and two grandchildren, Bryon Franks and Rachel Franks.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Aaron; brother, Owen; baby sister, Charlida and two half-brothers, Alfred and Virgil Groth.

Memorials may be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church and Grandview Health Care Center.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet