Catherine Ann Franks
July 29, 1934 — April 26, 2016
Catherine Ann Franks was born on July 29, 1934, to John and Marie Claire (Riss) Simet. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Omaha, Nebraska in 1951 and on October 4, 1952, was united in marriage to Lloyd Kosmacek. Together they had ten children before his passing in 1971. In 1973, she married Ken Hurd and had a daughter during their thirteen years together. She then married Donald Franks in 1987 who proceeded her in death in 1992.
In her early years, Cathy worked at Omaha National Bank. She also worked for Terminex for several years before moving on to OPPD, retiring in December of 1994. During her life, the family lived in Paxton, Nebraska, Omaha, and Persia.
She lived on her farm outside of Persia until moving in to town in 2009. While raising livestock on the farm, she earned the title “Grandma Pig” from her grandchildren who would stay with her during their summer break. She was pleased to have this title, as well as “Cookie Grandma” that other grandchildren fondly called her because she always had a cookie to offer you, no matter how old or young. Her fondest nickname was given to her by her beloved father when she was a small girl. . . she was his “Munch”.
The holidays were important to her and she always found a way to make them special. She always put the needs of other before her own. She was someone who would listen to you and offer her best advice. Her most shared advice was “That packaged food is still good beyond the expiration date. That’s just there as a guide!” She did make the best fried chicken!
She was an avid seamstress, liked to crochet, was a self-taught accordion player and organist. She was always on the hunt for a good bargain. She had a strong faith in God and a great love of family, especially her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed puttering in her garden, window shopping, and Little Debbie’s.
Cathy died on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of eighty-one years, eight months, and twenty-eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Lloyd and Donald, infant son Daniel, grandson Nicholas Kosmacek, brothers Richard and Robert Simet, and sister Jane Fleming.
She is survived by her children: Laura and her husband Ed Anderson of New Berlin, Wisconsin, Butch Kosmacek and his wife Bev of Persia, Iowa, Don Kosmacek and his wife Kim of Omaha, Nebraska, Gary Kosmacek and his wife Lisa of Omaha, Gayle and her husband Bob Nelson of Persia, Mary Kimsey of Blair, Nebraska, Joyce Kosmacek of Omaha, George Kosmacek and his wife Jennifer of Stanton, Nebraska, Tim Kosmacek and his wife Kahleen of Persia, Iowa, and Kristina and her husband Craig Brich of Persia; twenty-four grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; brothers Thomas Simet and his wife Virginia of Des Moines, Iowa and Leo Simet and his wife Monica of Omaha; sister Margaret Simet of Omaha; other family members and friends.
In her early years, Cathy worked at Omaha National Bank. She also worked for Terminex for several years before moving on to OPPD, retiring in December of 1994. During her life, the family lived in Paxton, Nebraska, Omaha, and Persia.
She lived on her farm outside of Persia until moving in to town in 2009. While raising livestock on the farm, she earned the title “Grandma Pig” from her grandchildren who would stay with her during their summer break. She was pleased to have this title, as well as “Cookie Grandma” that other grandchildren fondly called her because she always had a cookie to offer you, no matter how old or young. Her fondest nickname was given to her by her beloved father when she was a small girl. . . she was his “Munch”.
The holidays were important to her and she always found a way to make them special. She always put the needs of other before her own. She was someone who would listen to you and offer her best advice. Her most shared advice was “That packaged food is still good beyond the expiration date. That’s just there as a guide!” She did make the best fried chicken!
She was an avid seamstress, liked to crochet, was a self-taught accordion player and organist. She was always on the hunt for a good bargain. She had a strong faith in God and a great love of family, especially her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed puttering in her garden, window shopping, and Little Debbie’s.
Cathy died on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of eighty-one years, eight months, and twenty-eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Lloyd and Donald, infant son Daniel, grandson Nicholas Kosmacek, brothers Richard and Robert Simet, and sister Jane Fleming.
She is survived by her children: Laura and her husband Ed Anderson of New Berlin, Wisconsin, Butch Kosmacek and his wife Bev of Persia, Iowa, Don Kosmacek and his wife Kim of Omaha, Nebraska, Gary Kosmacek and his wife Lisa of Omaha, Gayle and her husband Bob Nelson of Persia, Mary Kimsey of Blair, Nebraska, Joyce Kosmacek of Omaha, George Kosmacek and his wife Jennifer of Stanton, Nebraska, Tim Kosmacek and his wife Kahleen of Persia, Iowa, and Kristina and her husband Craig Brich of Persia; twenty-four grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; brothers Thomas Simet and his wife Virginia of Des Moines, Iowa and Leo Simet and his wife Monica of Omaha; sister Margaret Simet of Omaha; other family members and friends.
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