Obituary of Dean Henry Franke

Dean Henry Franke passed away at the age of 77, November 28, 2017 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Born on October 8, 1940, Dean grew up in Ireton, Iowa. He married Janet Franke, his beloved wife, business partner, and best friend of more than 55 years on March 3, 1962. Dean spent his entire career as a farmer, beginning in the Ireton, Iowa area, and moving to the Riceville, Iowa area in 1976. Dean was always an innovator and loved researching and implementing new ideas. Dean retired from farming and moved with Janet to Lake Havasu City, Arizona in 2004. No one was a stranger to Dean. He was always fascinated by new acquaintances and their stories. Many of those acquaintances soon became treasured friends that now stretch from Maine to Washington, Canada to Arizona and many points in between. Dean will be remembered by his friends/family as one to have a very generous heart, helping many over the years with their passion for farming, their enjoyment of riding in the desert and mountains, or just helping a friend or family member that was in need. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Sheila Dawn; brother, Daryl; sisters, Marjorie Franke, Marilyn Bolin, and Marlys Klessig; parents, Elmer and Helma Franke. Dean is survived by his wife Janet; children, Quintin (Lon) Franke, of Neola, Iowa, Tracey Franke (Jo Ellen), of Hanover, Minnesota, Carmen (Kevin) Powers, of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchildren, Justin, Joshua, Kathryn, Megan, Alexander, Jonathon, and Jaden. Dean will be buried in a private ceremony on December 9th, 2017, in Ireton, Iowa. Celebration of Life will be on December 3rd at 3:00pm at his workshop in Havasu Heights in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and at Ireton Community Center in Ireton, Iowa at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 9th, 2017. Arrangements for the Ireton services are being coordinated by Porter Funeral home in Ireton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Havasu, Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.