2 OF MY TEEN GANG FRIENDS PASSED AWAY IN 4 (!!) DAYS FRANK FRANZE AND DON HALPENNY

                               FRANK FRANZE 

Frank Franze 2^nd MHS teen gang member to pass away in 4 days

 

Frank Franze, Class of 1950, passed Thursday, April 11 in Fairhope, Alabama 4 days before Donald “Jake” Halpenny, Class of 1950, both used their fathers' cars to transport the teen gang I ran around with in Marion County, passed away in Fairmont.

Bruno’s parents were Lucille and Theodore Franz.

His wives Earline Brownell Franze and Linda Corken Fraze predeceased him.

Bruno, Jake and I were part of what I faceitiously called The Gang That Terrorize Marion County. We didn’t. We were just prowling for fun.

Other members of the “gang” were Ronnie “Cooley” Delovich, Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Lawrence “Sonny” Godby, Bob “Satch” Kasper, Joe Manzo, Jim “Judge” Starcher, all deceased, and Tony Eates, Duane Harbert and Steven “Bucky” Satterfield.

We were a doozy dozen prowling Marion County before wandering into the rest of the world. Most of us did pretty well in our adult lives, too, once we got the teen angst searching for our fate out of the way.

Frank’s obituary:

Frank B. Franze, a longtime resident of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Fairhope, Alabama, at the age of 91. Frank's life was a testament to dedication, service, and a deep love for family and nature.

Frank was born May 6, 1932, in Fairmont, West Virginia, to Theodore and Lucille Franze. Frank enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and while stationed in Lake Charles, Louisiana, he met and married Alice Earline Brownell. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, the family moved back to Louisiana where he became a quality control supervisor at Martin Marrietta, Michoud Facility until his retirement in 1994.

Frank's life was enriched by the love of two marriages, each cherished deeply. Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Earline Brownell Franze; and his second wife, Linda Corken Franze.

He was a loving father and is survived by two children, Barbara Bell (Steve), Carol Franze (Brent Prezbindowski); four grandchildren, Amanda Calhoun, Ryan Roughton, Stephanie Bergeron, Erin Sams;  six great grandchildren, Marlee Calhoun, Cooper Calhoun, Liam Sams, Brycen Roughton, Jack Roughton, and Lucy Bergeron.

Frank cherished his family above all else. He was a loving father to his daughters Barbara and Carol, taking pride in their accomplishments and providing unwavering support throughout their lives. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him immense joy and were the recipients of his affection. Proud of his Italian heritage, Frank found great pleasure in connecting with his extended family abroad. He was a man of warmth and generosity, remembered fondly for his stories, laughter, and the genuine interest he took in the lives of those around him.

Beyond his professional achievements, Frank was a man of diverse passions. An avid outdoorsman, he found solace in fishing and hunting, often spending cherished moments at Sam Rayburn Lake with a fishing rod in hand, or a camera in a deer stand. His green thumb was evident in his devotion to growing roses, and his keen eye captured the beauty of the world as a dedicated photographer.

He was a parishioner of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Slidell and a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus member. In retirement he volunteered his time at the local food bank in Jasper Texas and participated in the HOST reading program. 

Frank Franze will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues and will be remembered as an extremely kind and generous man who was always willing to lend a hand. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate to share in his life's journey.

Funeral Services will be held at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd West, Slidell LA 70460, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Visitation will begin at 9:00am followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00am.

Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Slidell.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to one of the many charities he supported, like the Universal Living Rosary Association in Dickinson, Texas, St. Joseph Indian School of South Dakota, or Disabled American Veterans.