Frances “Franny” Frana

Sunday, October 16, 2022 11:24 pm

Frances (Franny) Elaine Frana, age 87, of rural Decorah, died peacefully Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at the Wellington Nursing Home in Decorah.

Frances (Anderson) Frana was born on July 6, 1935, the daughter of Gilbert and Luella (Jaastad) Anderson in rural Decorah,. She was baptized and confirmed in the Decorah Lutheran Church. She attended country school and then graduated from Decorah High School in 1953. On June 6, 1955, she married her neighbor, Emil Frana in the St. Wenceslaus Church in Spillville.

She became a member of the Ladies Church Guild there. After marrying, Frances was a homemaker raising three children along with helping on the farm. She enjoyed gardening, canning, and sewing many clothes for her family. Baking was another specialty of hers, along with some Norwegian treats like rommegot and rosettes. She never forgot a birthday and always had a cake made for you. During the 1980’s, Frances and one of her sisters-in-law got part time jobs off the farm at Wapsie Produce in Decorah. She stayed there for thirty plus years until the age of 70. She then took up crocheting and embroidering many sets of kitchen towels. She helped watch and care for many grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.

Left to survive Frances are daughters: Louann (Mark) Ptacek of Protivin, Ruth (John) Huinker of Decorah, and son: Peter Frana of Decorah; nine grandchildren: Charles Halvorson, Louann (Joe) Rilling, Solomon Halvorson, Uriah Halvorson, Andrew (Andrea) Halvorson, Lee (Kristy) Huinker, Jackie (Mike) Henning, Danielle (Noah) Balik, Steve (Courtney) Huinker; 17 great-grandchildren: Charlie, Johannah and Isaiah Halvorson; Jackson and Mason Huinker; Tate, Aunika and Lucy Balik; Mara, Evie, Sloane, Shea and Quinn Henning; Emma and Gunnar Rilling; Pearl and Ames Huinker. Her sister: Beverly Steen; sisters-in-law: Marian Anderson and Anita Anderson; brother-in-law: Bob Grindeland, along with many nieces and nephews.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband Emil and infant son, Roger; parents, Gilbert and Luella Anderson; father and mother-in-law William and Mary Frana; sisters and brothers-in-law: Loretta (Marc) Phillips, Irene (Gary) Groth, Clara (Leon) Williams, Almeda Grindeland, Pauline (Ken) Kuene, Kate (Alden) Holten, Carsten Steen; brothers and sister-in-law: Gordon Anderson, Donald Anderson, Herman (Lois) Anderson, Cyril and Mildred Frana; and son-in-law: Charles Halvorson.