Franz, Abie B. (1904-1975)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Jun 12 p. 11

Birth date: 1904 Oct 7

text of obituary:

ABIE B. FRANZ

Abie B. Franz, son of Abraham and Helena (Fast) Franz, was born on Oct. 7, 1904 at Henderson, York County, Nebraska.

He spent his boyhood days in the Henderson area. After graduating from high school in 19232 he received a county teaching certificate and intermittently taught in various rural schools in the Henderson area until 1935. During these years he attended several summer sessions at York College (Nebraska). In September 1935 he entered York College full time and graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor's degree in science.

In September 1938 he became principal of the Stuart, Neb. High School. Here he met and later married Vivian Nelson from Wakefield, Neb. He remained in Stuart as a teacher and principal until 1942.

On Feb. 23, 1942 he started working for the Department of the Army at the Kansas Ordnance Plant at Parsons, Kan. On Oct. 7, 1942 he was inducted into the U.S. Army. After release from military service he returned to work at the Kansas Ordnance Plant at Parsons, where he remained until transferred to Redstone Arsenal at Huntsville, Ala. in May, 1957. On Oct. 31, 1974 he retired from the Dept. of the Army with 33 years of service.

Mr. Franz suffered a heart attack the evening of May 12, 1975, and died on May 25 in the Huntsville Hospital at the age of 70.

He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Kathleen Tillery and Mrs. Beverly Love, both of Birmingham, Ala.; a son, Keith of Houston, Texas; one granddaughter; two brothers, Dr. George Franz of Enid, Okla. and Henry Franz of Bartlesville, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. B. E. Nachtigal of Buhler, Kan. and Mrs. I. F. Shellenberg of North Newton, Kan.

Mr. Franz was preceded in death by three sisters, Mrs. P. B. Wall of Dallas, Ore., Mrs. George H. Janzen of Enid, Okla., and Mrs. George Kliewer of Dallas, Ore. and by two brothers, David of Henderson and John of Buhler.

The funeral was held on May 28, 1975 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, with burial in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Huntsville.