Grace A. Franks

Sturgis - Grace A. Franks, 94, of Sturgis, Mich., died Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002, at her home.

She was born Aug. 30, 1908, in Fort Wayne, Ind., a daughter of Barney L. and Myrtle (Blood) Disler. Grace had been a Sturgis resident since, 1936, coming from Fort Wayne.

On Dec. 15, 1928, she married Newell A. Franks in Wawaka, Ind. She was a homemaker and dedicated wife and mother.

Grace was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Sturgis Kiwanaqueens, Pocahontas Temple #121 Pythian Sisters, Order of Eastern Star Olive Branch #2, Sturgis Hospital Medical Scholarship Guild, Sturgis Woman's Club, the Klinger Lake Country Club, numerous bridge clubs, and she and her husband were past members of the Friendly Circle Dance Club.

Grace loved playing cards, especially bridge and solitaire and working in her flower gardens.

The family would like to take this opportunity to publicly extend their heartfelt thanks to Rosetta Carpenter for her never ending caring, love and dedication to Grace and the entire family.

Grace is survived by; her loving husband of 73 years, Newell; three sons and daughters-in-law, Richard N. and Jean Franks of Sun City, Ariz., Lawrence A. Franks of Sturgis and Tom E. and Joyce Franks of Sturgis; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Deborah A. Sulcs and Linda J. Franks, both of Peoria, Ariz., Janet M. Franks of Bellingham, Wash., Michael W. and Rita Franks of Kalamazoo, Newell A. and Kelley Franks II of Sturgis, David L. and Joan Franks of Sturgis, Lee Ann and Brian McConnell of Sturgis, Willis P. Franks of Sturgis and Jeffery and Rebecca Franks of Columbia Station, Ohio; 24 great-grandchildren and their spouses, Athena and Randall Lafferty, Diedra and Nick FOX, Matthew Sulcs, Michelle Franks, Melissa Franks, Lucas Franks, Vincent Franks, James Franks, Elizabeth Franks, Emily Franks, Nathan Franks, Erin Franks, Erica Franks, Nicholas Franks, Noah Franks, Brennan McConnell, Corey Franks, Zachary Franks, Emma Franks, Sarah Franks, Ryan Franks, Jessica Franks and Laura Franks; four great-great-grandchildren, Autumn Lafferty, Zachary Lafferty, Alex Fox and Brook Fox; two sisters, Roselma Anna and Robert Dale and Edna Belle and Dale Augenstein, both of Fort Wayne; three brothers, Delbert Carl Disler of Oakland City, Ind., and Kenneth Eugene Disler and Willis Lloyd Disler, both of Fort Wayne; and several nieces and nephews, including a special niece and her husband, Virginia (Franks) and Lewis Rawles of Wolcottville, Ind.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two grandchildren, Emily Lorie Franks and Richard N. "Ric" Franks; one great-grandchild, Christopher Franks; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Franks; three sisters, Mildred Schoenherr, Mabel Zuber and Dolly Mae Arnold; and three brothers, Barney Harold Disler, Ray Edward Disler and Arthur William Disler.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at the Hackman-Foglesong Funeral Home of Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Grace A. Franks will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday (all Mich. times) at the First United Methodist Church of Sturgis. The Rev. Keith Treman will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Frank's memory consider the American Cancer Society, First United Methodist Church or the Sturgis Foundation. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Published in the Sturgis Daily Journal, Friday, October 11, 2002.