Edna Franke
February 17, 1937 ~ August 18, 2023
Edna Loretta Franke, 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 18, 2023 at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Holy Family Parish with Rev. James Goerend celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Hampton.
Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there will be a family rosary at 3:30 p.m. and parish scripture service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation continues an hour prior to Mass at the church on Wednesday.
Edna Loretta Franke was born on February 17, 1937, on the family farm northeast of Calmar, IA. Edna was a compassionate soul who left an indelible mark on her family and community.
The second eldest daughter of Edmund and Cecilia Gerleman, Edna was raised with the values of hard work, faith, and community service. After attending St. Aloysius Catholic School through 8th grade, she graduated from Calmar High School in 1955, and then pursued her passion for helping others by earning her nursing degree from St. Francis School of Nursing in LaCrosse, WI, in 1958. It was during her time in LaCrosse that she met Bob Franke while he was visiting relatives. Their meeting at the Avelon Dance Hall was the beginning of a beautiful love story, and the couple married at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar on June 6, 1959.
Edna and Bob were blessed with six children. The family lived in Charles City in their early married life, where their four oldest boys, Michael, John, David, and Patrick, were born. They later welcomed Jeffrey and Sara in New Hampton. In 1961, Edna and Bob moved to a farm northeast of New Hampton and farmed together until Bob's death in 2011.
Edna's dedication to her profession was evident in her impressive nursing career. She began in private duty, then transitioned to the hospital setting at Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City. Her impact on the nursing profession was most notable at the New Hampton hospital, where she served from 1961 until 2021. As a night supervisor for the majority of her nursing career, she skillfully balanced raising her children, working on the farm, and serving her community. After retiring from nursing in 1995, Edna devoted her life to volunteering at Mercy One in New Hampton, serving on the Auxiliary Board for 10 years. Her service at the hospital earned her a place on the Heritage Wall at Mercy One, a testament to her unwavering commitment to her community.
Edna was not only a dedicated professional but a woman of many interests. She was an excellent cook, a gifted gardener, and an enthusiastic fisherwoman. She loved wintering at the Villages in Florida with Bob and enjoyed her many "sisters' days". She considered day trips and the many bus trips with family and friends "good therapy". A devout Catholic, Edna prayed the rosary and attended mass regularly. Edna loved to visit with people and was a treasured member of the Putter Pals neighborhood club.
Edna is survived by five sons, Michael(Deniz) of Waukee, IA, John of Clear Lake, IA, David(Jane) of Nora Springs, IA, Patrick(Melanie) of Johnston, IA, and Jeffrey(Natalie) of West Des Moines; her beloved 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; four sisters, Margaret(Robert) Koenigsfeld of New Hampton, Mardell(Larry) Corcoran of Ettrick, WI, Betty(John) Pell of Urbandale, IA, and Phyllis Prybelski of Austin, MN; sisters-in-law, Rita Gerleman of Calmar and Mary Franke of Cedar Falls; and brother-in-law Ronald Kreitzer of Cresco. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edmund and Cecelia Gerleman; her husband, Bob, in 2011; her daughter, Sara, in 1994; her sister, Marie Kreitzer; her brother, Paul Gerleman; and her brothers-in-law, Ron Prybelski, Patrick Weigel, and James Franke.
Kind, faith-filled, and intelligent, Edna's legacy will continue to inspire those who knew her. Her life was a testament to her love for her family, her faith, and her community. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
The family requests memorial contributions to be directed towards St. Croix Hospice & New Hampton MercyOne Auxilary.
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So sorry for your loss. Prays
So sorry for your loss. I enjoyed working with Edna at New Hampton St. Joe’s Hospital in the mid 1970’s and early 1980’s. Thoughts and prayers with all of you 🙏 ❤️
So sorry for the family’s loss. She was such a sweet person!
What a kind person💖I loved working with Edna at St Joes Hospital. She taught me so very much🥲🙏
Sending our deepest sympathy to the family
So sorry for your loss.
A beautiful lady ,inside and out. An outstanding nurse and a pleasure to work with. Rest in peace Edna. My sympathy to her family.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Edna at St. Joe’s. Great nurse and a kind person
She was a really good person and she will be missed. Please accept my condolences
My deepest sympathy to the family. I always enjoyed visiting with Edna and all the great memories of her and the Putter Pals.💕
Edna was a wonderful person. Sending prayers for the Franke family.
Such a kind and compassionate nurse, I worked with her on nights at St Joe’s. What a wonderful mentor and resource . May she rest in peace!
Sympathy to the Family 🙏
So sorry for your loss
My deepest condolences to the Franke family. Edna was a wonderful lady and a very caring nurse.
Deepest condolences.🙏❤️
My deepest sympathy to her family. Edna was very special. Rest in Peace!
A great charge Nurse. RIP
So sorry for your loss
My deepest sympathy to the family.
My sympathy to the Franke family.
Sorry for your loss 🙏🙏
So sad to hear this. So sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss such a kind person renited with her husband and daughter
Deepest sympathy to the Frankie family. She was a great lady.
Deepest sympathy to the family
Sending our deepest sympathy to the family
Our deepest sympathy to the family
What a kind and compassoonate nurse. She made such a positive impact on her coworkers and the patients she cared for. Deepest sympathy to her family.
So sorry for your loss
She was such a pleasant and kind lady.
I learned so much working with Edna- she was a compassionate and intelligent mentor. She was the first nurse I saw pray with a family as their loved one was dying…. a lady of strong faith. May she rest in peace. Sympathies to her family.
So sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss
You have our sympathy
A beautiful lady! A wonderful nurse, a caring and compassionate woman who loved her family! Fortunate to work with her, live neighbor to her and Bob and get to know her. God has gained an angel. Rest in Peace dear Edna!
Our sympathy to the family. Edna was such a kind and caring person.
Our deepest condolences to Edna’s boys and their families. Prayers for each of you as you say goodby to your Mom. She was a wonderful, compassionate, beautiful, person! So glad I had the pleasure to work with her, live as her neighbor and call her friend. God brought his angel home! My heart extends to each of you, I am so sorry!
Jan and Lance Manson
Sorry for your loss 🙏🏻
Lovely Lady ❤️
We’re so sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful person.
Our sympathies to lol the family. What a wonderful life, a well lived life💖
Edna was a very caring person. Sympathy to all her family.
My deepest sympathy to the families. Your Mom was a great neighbor when I was growing up. I then worked at St. Joe’s while your Mom was a nurse. She was always so kind to everyone. May she rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss she was a nice lady.
🙏🙏🙏
Deepest sympathies
You have our sympathy. Wonderful nurse.
So sorry for your loss…she was one of the best!!
Sympathy to the family
Sympathy for all the family
My prayers are with you
What a lovely LADY! We really enjoyed our many visits. Rest in peace Edna. Sincerely Jack and Dianne Blazek
Thoughts and prayers🙏 So sorry for your loss.
She was a nurse and person filled with wisdom and love for all she knew. She was great mentor. She made the staff at the hospital a community! She will be greatly missed. Rest in peace for job well done.
So sorry for your loss. I so enjoyed working with Edna years ago!
Edna is in my personal nurses Hall of Fame. I loved working with her. Greg
My sympathy to all Edna family.
Sympathies to the family
Sympathy to All the family
So sorry to hear of this. Prayers for the family
Avery special lady….sympathy to the family
Sympathy to her family and friends.
So sorry for your loss. She was a joy to work with.🙏🙏
My love and prayers are with Edna’s family. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Sending prayers for comfort to the Franke family. Edna was an incredible woman and I loved visiting with her. She will be greatly missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of Edna’s family,she was such a special person.I got to know her when we served on the Auxiliary board together.She will be missed by many.
Dave – I am so sorry to read of your Mom’s passing. My deepest sympathy to you and the entire Franke family.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Edna’s family at this difficult time. Heaven certainly gained a special angel. I always enjoyed working with Edna at the hospital and got to have her as my nurse a few times as well. Sympathies to all as you face this difficult journey.
Sending deepest sympathies to Edna’s family. I truly enjoyed visiting with her over the years when I saw her when in New Hampton. May your cherished memories help you through this difficult time.
I am so sorry for your loss, only know a couple of the Franke boys, but extend condolences to all of you
Keith Berg, Boone IA
My sympathy to the family.
My thoughts and prayers to the family
Sorry for your loss
With our deepest sympathy and love.
My sympathy to the family.
So sorry for your loss. Edna was a kind, caring and beautiful person both inside and out. I always enjoyed our visits over the years. She will be deeply missed.
I am so sorry for your loss Edna was special person . I enjoy visiting with her at Kensington Place . You all have my sympathy.
My Hero.
Rest in peace…✝️
Such a wonderful nurse & HUMAN BEING❣️
Edna, Bob, & Sara are finally reunited💕
Our thoughts to Edna’s family. She touched many lives for the better
Our sympathy to Edna’s family
Our deepest sympathy. Edna was a wonderful lady. It has been a real pleasure knowing her.
So sorry to hear of this loss. She was a caring, compassionate person. Deepest sympathy to her family.
Deepest sympathies to Edna’s family. She was such a caring and kind individual. A very special lady. We both volunteered at the hospital and served on the hospital auxiliary board together. She was a first cousin to my father, and we many times visited about family and her growing up. I truly cherished our conversations. RIP Edna
Thoughts and prayers to her family!
Love and hugs from New Hampton Nursing and Rehab…Edna was such a sweetheart and we loved getting to care for her ❤️
DEAREST MIKE , DEATH LEAVES A HEART ACHE NO ONE CAN HEAL. LOVE LEAVES A MEMORY NO ONE CAN STEAL ! HER LEGACY WILL FOREVER LIVE ONHUG, SUZIE BURT
Sincere sympathies to Edna’s family.
She was a great nurse and a joy to work with.
Praying for Gods strength during this difficult time. Sending hugs and blessings. Love,
Sympathies to you John and your family. Prayers to your family.
Cheryl Madsen (Crooks)
Deepest sympathies and love to the Franke Family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Deepest sympathy to Edna’s family.
So sorry for your loss. Edna was a kind, professional nurse and a great role model. I learned so much from her.
To the Franke family,
Sorry for your loss. Know our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Don and Kim Blazek
Sent with our Love and Sympathy, Vicki and Dennis, Janet, Judi and Brad, and Bruce and Liz
May her memories console you in the days ahead. She always had a smile and hello at Kensington Place. Sending prayers to her family. Jeanne and David Roder
Edna was a delight to be around. Our sympathy to the entire family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
So very sorry. She was a wonderful mentor to me
Sincere sympathy to family and friends. A great nurse!!!!!
Our prayers and sympathy to all of Edna’s family.
Edna was a dear, sweet lady. She often made our day when she was at Kensington Place. Condolences to her family.
Sympathy and prayers for Edna’s family.
Sympathy for Edna’s family, God Bless her.
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Praying for those less left behind as you will miss so her so much! She was a excellent nurse! Peggy Lynne Drake-Fredine
Sorry to hear about Edna. Neighbors forever.Will say prayers.