Dean Franken

Dean Franken was born at Sac City, Iowa, May 18,1922, the son of Walter Henry and Neva Wells Franken. He was raised at Schaller where he received his elementary education at the Eden #3 grade school before being graduated from Hayes High School in Storm Lake, Iowa, with the class of 1937. While in high school he was employed at Miller?s Food Market in Schaller. On July 15,1945, Dean was united in marriage with Ila Cleone Vlotho at Ireton, Iowa. Their union was blessed with two sons, Joel and Mark. They made their home in Sheldon, Iowa, where Dean was employed as a salesman for Rivin Brothers. From March 30, 1946, until his discharge January 8, 1947, Dean served his country in Korea as a Private First Class in the United States Army. Upon his discharge he returned to his family and job at Sheldon. In 1948 the family moved to Denison, Iowa, where Dean was employed as store manager for the Rivin Brothers, Thrifty Food Market. In July of 1966, the Franken?s moved to Schaller, Iowa, where Dean owned and operated Dean?s Food Market until 1982. In 1982 they moved to Okoboji, Iowa, where they resided until 1997 when they moved to Milford, Iowa. During their years in the lakes region, from 1984 until retiring in 1999, they owned and operated Cleone?s Enterprises at The Stables, the amusement park, and, during the winters, at Donna, Texas. Cleone died August 8, 1999, and Dean remained at Milford until moving to the Reed House in Denison, Iowa, in 2001. In 2003 he moved to Silvercrest in Davenport, Iowa, where he had since resided. Having been baptized in the lake at Storm Lake, Iowa, on July 28, 1941, by the Rev. Moore G. Bell, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Schaller, Iowa, Dean was a member of the Presbyterian Church the rest of his life. During his years in Denison he was a member of and Deacon of the United Presbyterian Church. Other memberships he enjoyed during his life include serving as a Denison Fireman from 1950 until 1966, Denison Gun Club from 1950 until 1966, serving as secretary of that organization and the Schaller Gun Club from 1966 until 1982. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the AbuBekr Shrine participating in their Oriental Band. In his spare time through the years Dean enjoyed gun collecting, shooting trap, hunting and golfing. Dean died Saturday afternoon, January 27, 2007, at the Iowa Masonic Health Facility in Bettendorf, Iowa. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 84 years, 8 months and 9 days. Including his parents, Walter and Neva Franken and his wife, Cleone, Dean was preceded in death by his brother, John Dewey Franken. Those remaining to cherish his memory include his sons and their wives, Joel and Diane Franken of Davenport, Iowa, and Mark and Jill Franken of Everett, Washington, two sisters-in-law, Betty Franken of Schaller, Iowa, and Lorraine (Horstman) Zimmer and her husband, John of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2007, at the Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Brian K. Rihner, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church in Denison, officiating. Music for the service included Jerry Peterman singing "On Eagles Wings", "In The Garden" and "The Church?s One Foundation" with Glenn Rankin serving as organist. Pallbearers included John W. Franken, Dennis Struck, Dean Felten, Greg Miller, Judy Felten and Carleton Horstman. Graveside services and interment were held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2007, at the Eureka Township Cemetery at Schaller, Iowa. Following the funeral services in Denison the family invited everyone to join them for lunch and fellowship at Cronks and following the interment all were invited to join the family at the First Presbyterian Church, Schaller, Iowa, for refreshment prepared and served by the United Presbyterian Women. A memorial has been established to the Shriners Children Hospital and may be directed to www.shrinerhq.org or Shrine International, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 32607. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements where at 7:00 p.m., Monday, January 29, 2007, a Masonic Service was held conducted by the Sylvan Lodge No. 507 A. F. & A. M., Denison, Iowa.