Eloise Iva Franke, age 92, of Bronson passed away Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 at 12:00 Noon with Pastor Jim Erwin officiating at Dutcher Funeral Home in Bronson. A private family grave side service will be held at North Gilead Cemetery. The family will receive guests for visitation Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 from 10:00 AM until time of service at the funeral home.
She was born November 4th, 1930 to Arthur and Cynthia (Weller) Oom in Grand Rapids, MI. Eloise was a graduate of Central High School in Grand Rapids. On May 20th, 1949 she married Arthur E. Franke in Grand Rapids, MI where they started their family. Then moved to Ohio for Arthur’s work, where the family grew to 4 children. They moved back to Michigan and Eloise established a successful Real Estate career in Dearborn as her children were growing older and having children of their own.
Upon retirement Art and Eloise moved to the country in the Bronson area. They spent summers at their cottage on Long Lake in Fremont, MI and winters at their home in the Sunny Breeze community in Florida. They loved traveling, going to Europe, Africa, South America, rafted down the Colorado River, flew in to fish in a remote area of Canada and taking many cruises.
Eloise made beautiful quilts which she gave to family members and charities. She participated in Punta Gorda Quilt Guild and the Tangled Threads Quilt club. Other interests were swimming, fishing and investing in the stock market which she did for years.
Eloise was a devoted Christian, loving God and depending on Him her entire life. Her most recent church home was at Bethel Gilead Church. Eloise loved her family and extended family, and they loved her back, giving faithful support and spending countless wonderful times together. Her zest for life, independent nature, strong inner character and knowledge of many things will be greatly missed.
Arthur, her husband, preceded her in death on January 12, 2014.
Eloise leaves behind her children Bobbi (Dale) Norton of Bronson, Dr. Arthur (Diane) Franke of Fremont, MI, Cynthia (Zach) Hallum of Culpeper, VA, Jennette Cannon of Sturgis; her sister Donna Brunsink of Belmont, MI; her grandchildren Michael Norton, Elizabeth (Ryan) Daly, Arthur (Amanda) Franke, Robert (Maggie) Franke, Morgen (Jamie) Bearse, Alison Hallum, Holly (Adam) Carden; great grandchildren Sarah, Ethen, Ben, Sloan, Felix, Eloise; her loving nieces and nephews, and her former daughter-in-law Susan Franke of Ann Arbor.
In addition to her husband Arthur, she was preceded in death by her parents and one son-in-law Kevin Cannon.
Memorial donations are suggested to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and Samaritan’s Purse.
www.dutcherfh.com
Comments