Nelvina Franken

Nelvina Franken, 98, of Sioux Center, IA died Saturday, October 6, 2012, 2012, at Whispering Heights Care Center in Rock Valley. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10:30AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. In lieu of flowers or gift items the Franken family prefer memorials be directed to the Iowa Department for the Blind. (524 Fourth Street, De Moines, IA 50309-2364) Nelvina Franken passed away Saturday, October 6, at the age of 98. Born on June 25, 1914, to Charles and Cora (Vellinga) Kleinhesselink on the family farm near Newkirk, Iowa, Nelvina was a resident of Sioux County her entire life. She grew up on the farm with brothers Joe and Ring and sisters Berdina and Harriett. Like others of her generation her life was highlighted by a world of change. Childhood stories include traveling to the one room country schoolhouse by horse and buggy, handpicking corn with sister Berdina, and weekly trips into Alton for supplies and an occasional ice cream cone from OK Cafe. A typical farm life. These simple beginnings, along with the Depression and World War II, shaped her life of frugality, conviction to her religious upbringing, gentle spirit and quiet determination. She saved money working at the Methodist Hospital in Sioux City to be able to attend Samuelson Beauty College in Sioux City, and eventually opened a beauty salon in Orange City, Iowa before the war. After the war she married Everett G. Franken on July 1, 1946, in Aurora, S.D. She and Everett lived in Sioux Center and raised their family here. She continued working as a beautician for 51 years, until 1991. She was a member of First Reformed Church. She served her community and its families by acting as den mother to its young Cub Scouts and a 4-H Leader to the young women. She always enjoyed sewing, needlework of all kinds and gardening. After retiring, she and Everett loved traveling with their motor home and had many memorable trips until Everett's death in 1994. In 2004, at the age of 90, she moved to Crown Pointe where she lived happily for nearly three years, making new friends and enjoying every day. Thanks to all there who made this transition such a wonderful time of her life. For the past five years she has been a resident at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley, Iowa. Thank you to those in the Meadow Lane wing for being a part of her "family" for so long and caring for her. Thanks to those in the Countryside wing as well, for working with the family to make things better for her. Nelvina was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother and will be remembered for her kindness and generosity, her devotion to family and friends and her quiet perseverance. She never complained in the face of hardship and was always grateful for the gifts in her life. She is preceded in death by her husband, Everett G. Franken; her parents; brothers, Joe and Ring Kleinhesselink; sisters, Harriett Peuse and husband Hank, and Berdina VanderSchaaf and husband Joe; and daughter-in-law, Ronda Franken. Survivors include her children, Greg Franken and wife Judy of Sun Prairie, WI, Yvonne Molinari and husband Tom of Ventura, CA, Evan Franken of Carpinteria,CA, and Ramona Waldrep and husband Mark of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren, Kim Standley and husband Thad, Jessica Franken and Niko Tomlinson, Nicole Thompson and husband JD, Ross Franken, Cara Franken, Kari Waldrep, Christopher Waldrep, and Michael Waldrep; great-grandson, Cole Everett Thompson; sisters-in-law, Bertha Kleinhesselink of Orange City, IA and Abby Kleinhesselink of Vancouver, WA; and Everett's family, Kathleen Altena of Sioux Center, Howard Franken of Luverne, MN, Arnie Franken and Velma of Sioux Center, and Irwin Franken and Carol of Denver, CO.