Donald Eugene Franzen
Donald Eugene Franzen, 87, of Cloquet, Minn., was finally released from the effects of Alzheimer's disease on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at Sunnyside Health Care Center in Cloquet. He was born Sept. 6, 1925, in Cloquet to David and Emily Franzen. Don quit high school to join the United States Navy during World War II and later earned his GED. He married Charline Finberg on June 8, 1947, in Carlton, Minn. Don worked at Northwest Paper Company for a short time before moving to Las Vegas, Nev., where he worked at the Desert Inn Golf Course, Paradise Valley Golf Course and the Flamingo Hotel. He later returned to Cloquet, returning to Potlatch until his retirement in 1987.
Donald Eugene Franzen, 87, of Cloquet, Minn., was finally released from the effects of Alzheimer's disease on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at Sunnyside Health Care Center in Cloquet. He was born Sept. 6, 1925, in Cloquet to David and Emily Franzen. Don quit high school to join the United States Navy during World War II and later earned his GED. He married Charline Finberg on June 8, 1947, in Carlton, Minn. Don worked at Northwest Paper Company for a short time before moving to Las Vegas, Nev., where he worked at the Desert Inn Golf Course, Paradise Valley Golf Course and the Flamingo Hotel. He later returned to Cloquet, returning to Potlatch until his retirement in 1987.
Don was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and the Potlatch Quarter Century Club. Don was a kind and gentle man who enjoyed wood working and flower gardening. He loved doing crossword puzzles and playing solitaire.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; sisters-in-law, Betty Smith, Marie Finberg, Jean Caza and Nancy Finberg; and brother-in-law, Jack Finberg.
He is survived by and will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 65 years, Charline; sons, Steven (Debra) of Ripon, Calif., John (Marcia) of Cloquet, James (Erhly) of Silverdale, Wash., and Scott (Mary) of Centerville; daughters, Debra (Sherman) Risdall and Karen (John) Sorensen, both of Esko; 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Gordon Caza of Cloquet; sister-in-law, Donna Finberg of Wrenshall; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Monday, Oct. 22, from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. funeral service in Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Cloquet. Military honors will be accorded by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. A time of lunch and fellowship will follow in the fellowship room of the church.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer's Association.
Arrangements entrusted to Atkins-Northland Funeral Home. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.
October 25, 2012 ~ Pine Journal, Cloquet, Minn.
Tags: obituaries
RSS Feeds