Arnie Franken

Arnie Franken, 80, of Sioux Center, IA died Saturday, November 17, 2012, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be held on Monday from 4-8PM with the family present from 6-8PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center, Iowa. A prayer service will be held on Tuesday at 10AM at Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday at 11AM at Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Van Rathbun officiating. The Franken family prefer memorials be directed to Sioux Center Veterans Memorial Project. Arnold James Franken was born on January 18, 1932 to Gerrit and Gertrude (Bosch) Franken on the family farm near Middleburg, Iowa. He attended school in Sioux Center. Arnie first worked in construction for a year before moving to Artesia, California. There he worked for the Coast Grain Trucking firm for a year before enlisting in the US Army on May 14, 1953. Arnie was stationed in Germany until his discharge on May 3, 1955. He lived in Norwalk, California until 1965, at which time returned to Sioux Center and worked for his brother, Everett Franken as an electrician. Arnie married Velma Jean De Groot on June 27, 1967 and the couple made their home in Sioux Center. He purchased "Franken Electric" from his brother in 1969 and continued in the profession throughout the remainder of his life. Arnie was a member of Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center and especially enjoyed a close relationship with Reverend Kiel when he was pastor at the church. Many special memories were made during breakfast and bible study. Arnie liked spending many hours restoring classic cars and belonging to the car club in Sioux Center. He also enjoyed woodworking and being able to fix almost anything. He loved to travel and take vacations out west when his kids were young. Many a Sunday afternoon he could be found on a scenic drive somewhere in the area. He loved to sit in his backyard and watch the squirrels and birds in his many feeders. Arnie had a close relationship with many of his nieces and nephews. They liked hanging around his shop and helping him with projects or his cars. Playing cards and reminiscing with his brothers and sisters also meant a lot to him. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Velma of Sioux Center; daughter and son-in-law, Shelly and Rick Rozeboom of Hull; son, Mark Franken of San Francisco, CA; his grandchildren: Michael (Nessel) Rozeboom and their son, Brayden of Hull, Ashley (Ryan) Begalske of Cedar Falls, IA, Cody Rozeboom and Nicole Rozeboom both of Hull; two brothers: Howard Franken of Luverne, MN, Irwin and Carol Franken of Denver, CO and his sister, Kathleen Altena of Sioux Center. Also left to cherish his memory are Velma's family: Mary Swets of Orange City, Judy and Roy Vander Meulen of Sioux Falls, Dennis and Carol De Jong of Sheldon, IA, Gladys Johnson of Sioux Falls and Ron and Kathy De Groot of Sioux Center. Preceding him in Death are his son, Steve Franken; his parents; four brothers and their wives: Everett and Nelvina Franken, Gerrit and Elizabeth Franken, Dries and Dorothy Franken, Louis and Wilma Franken; two sisters and their husbands: Grace and Bernie Van Batavia; Louise and Jack Oliver; sister-in-law, Wilma Joyce Franken and brothers-in-law: Wilmer Altena and Del Swets.