Marie Frana
Marie Frana
Marie Frana, age 98, of Decorah, IA, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah, IA.
Marie Rose (Ehler) Frana was born on September 21, 1918, the daughter of William and Rosina (Meinert) Ehler on the family farm south of Calmar, IA. Marie was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina. She attended and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Festina. Marie was united in marriage to George Frana on May 18, 1948, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church. To this union, eight children were born: Linda, Lavonne, Linus, Lois, Lorna, Leon, Lisa and Lynette. Marie and George farmed for many years in Pleasant Township until the untimely death of George at the age of 51. Marie continued to live on the farm to raise her family. She worked in Decorah for many years, first for the Sale Barn, serving lunch and baking pies; at Vi’s Café and then for twelve years in food service at the Decorah High School until her retirement in 1989. Marie was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church where she was active in St. Marie’s Circle. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She enjoyed going on bus trips sponsored by the Sunshine Club and Good Neighbor’s Club. She enjoyed traveling to the various cities in which her children lived, and especially enjoyed the many trips to Colorado with Dorothy and Orville Halverson. Marie was very content to be at home on the farm. Her hobbies included sewing, quilting, crocheting, baking kolaches, listening and dancing to country and polka music, reading, tending to her lawn, flower and vegetable gardens and canning. She enjoyed playing cards with the Madison Willing Workers Card Club.
Marie is survived by her eight children: Linda (Mel) Krewson, Cedar Rapids, IA; Lavonne (Dan) Wasser, Austin, CO; Linus “Butch” (Myra) Frana, Marion, IA; Lois (Mark) Freme, Cedar Rapids, IA; Lorna (Jim) Hasken, Muscatine, IA; Leon (friend, Celia Dunn) Frana, Savannah, GA; Lisa (Bill) Parkinson, Parker, CO; and Lynette Frana, Littleton, CO. Fifteen grandchildren: Steve (Kelly) Krewson, Erin Krewson, Adam (Chere) Wasser, Nathan (Amy) Wasser, Nick (Johanna) Wasser, Erik, Reid & Ian Frana, Meghan Freme, Andrew, Chris & Emily Hasken, Loredana Frana, Shelby & Jackie Parkinson. Eight great grandchildren: Abigail & Colin Krewson, Noah Brostad, Cade, Carter & Callie Wasser, MacKenzy Wasser and Aubrey Wasser. Three brothers-in-law: Jerome (Lois) Frana, Ossian, IA; Marcelline Frana, Charles City, IA; and Julius Frana, Fort Atkinson, IA. Two sisters-in-law: Georgina Frana, Edina, MN and Elaine Frana, Decorah, IA, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents: William and Rosina (Meinert) Ehler, her husband: George Frana in 1972, grandson: Matthew Krewson in infancy, three brothers: Norbert (Clara) Ehler, Felix (Bertha) Ehler and Edmund (Sylvia) Ehler, two sisters: Agatha Ehler in infancy and Ida (Frank) Hageman, five brothers-in-law: Art Frana, Leonard Frana, Stanley Frana, Adolph (Janice) Frana, and Ermin (Wilma) Frana, sisters-in-law: Sonja Frana, Monica Frana, Martha Frana and Vi Frana.