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William E. Francis
Aug 27, 1942 — Jun 9, 2008
William E. Francis
Funeral Services for William E. "Bill" Francis will be conducted from the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend David Sites and Darrel Wissmann, PMA, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.
William Edward Francis was born on August 27, 1942 in San Diego, California to Marshall "Barney" and Ida Mae (Walker) Francis and died on Monday, June 9, 2008 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege at the age of 65 years, 9 months and 13 days.
Bill grew up on the family farm near Marquette, Nebraska. He was baptized on July 3, 1949 and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Marquette. Bill graduated from Marquette High School in 1961. He began farming following his education near Marquette and continued farming until 1979.
On July 3, 1965 he was united in marriage to Janice Hansen and to this union three children were born: Jennifer, Janet and James.
On March 1, 1980 Bill was united in marriage to Joyce (Rapp) Anderson. They moved to Funk, Nebraska and became a "blended" family with the addition of step-daughter, Glenda (Anderson) Sturgis.
Bill worked for Hastings Grain at Hastings, NE for 27 years as a grain sampler, licensed by the USDA. Bill served as chairman of the Funk Village Board for several years. He was licensed by the state of Nebraska as a Grade IV Water Operator taking water samples for the town of Funk. He worked at several odd jobs including bus driver for the Funk School, painting and mowing. He took great pride in his work. Bill enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He liked playing cards with his friends and he was an avid LA Lakers basketball and Yankees baseball fan.
He leaves to mourn his passing, wife, Joyce of Funk; daughters: Jennifer McFarland and her husband, Bruce and Janet Mead all of Grand Island, NE; son: James Francis and his wife, Janelle of Lincoln, NE; step-daughter, Glenda Sturgis and Todd Nelson of Omaha, NE; two sisters: Pat Carriker and her husband, Dean, of Aurora, NE and Judy Gillham and her husband, Leroy of Newman Grove, NE; grandchildren: Jonalyn Pescitelli of Grand Island and Jorja and Jager Francis of Lincoln; brother-in-law, Gerald Rapp and his wife, Joan of Grand Island, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Lloyd Pierce, and an infant nephew.
Bill will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Thursday, June 12, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
A memorial has been established in his memory.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
William Edward Francis was born on August 27, 1942 in San Diego, California to Marshall "Barney" and Ida Mae (Walker) Francis and died on Monday, June 9, 2008 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege at the age of 65 years, 9 months and 13 days.
Bill grew up on the family farm near Marquette, Nebraska. He was baptized on July 3, 1949 and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Marquette. Bill graduated from Marquette High School in 1961. He began farming following his education near Marquette and continued farming until 1979.
On July 3, 1965 he was united in marriage to Janice Hansen and to this union three children were born: Jennifer, Janet and James.
On March 1, 1980 Bill was united in marriage to Joyce (Rapp) Anderson. They moved to Funk, Nebraska and became a "blended" family with the addition of step-daughter, Glenda (Anderson) Sturgis.
Bill worked for Hastings Grain at Hastings, NE for 27 years as a grain sampler, licensed by the USDA. Bill served as chairman of the Funk Village Board for several years. He was licensed by the state of Nebraska as a Grade IV Water Operator taking water samples for the town of Funk. He worked at several odd jobs including bus driver for the Funk School, painting and mowing. He took great pride in his work. Bill enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He liked playing cards with his friends and he was an avid LA Lakers basketball and Yankees baseball fan.
He leaves to mourn his passing, wife, Joyce of Funk; daughters: Jennifer McFarland and her husband, Bruce and Janet Mead all of Grand Island, NE; son: James Francis and his wife, Janelle of Lincoln, NE; step-daughter, Glenda Sturgis and Todd Nelson of Omaha, NE; two sisters: Pat Carriker and her husband, Dean, of Aurora, NE and Judy Gillham and her husband, Leroy of Newman Grove, NE; grandchildren: Jonalyn Pescitelli of Grand Island and Jorja and Jager Francis of Lincoln; brother-in-law, Gerald Rapp and his wife, Joan of Grand Island, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Lloyd Pierce, and an infant nephew.
Bill will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Thursday, June 12, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
A memorial has been established in his memory.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
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