Funeral services for 88-year-old Martin “Bud” Franz of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, January 27, 2015, at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake, located at 301 9th Street North.
Interment will be in Mountain Lake City Cemetery, located at 10th Street North at Midway Road.
Pastor Galen Kauffman will officiate at the services.
Visitation will be on Monday, January 26, 2015, at Sturm Funeral Home-Mountain Lake Chapel, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral home is located at 420 10th Street North in Mountain Lake. A second visitation will be held at the church the day of the funeral, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Martin William “Bud” Franz passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015, in Windom, Minnesota.
Martin William “Bud” Franz was born on May 2, 1926, in Mountain Lake, the son of Sam M. and Evelyn (Janssen) Franz. Bud was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. He grew up and attended school in Mountain Lake. He worked on the family farm with his folks as he grew up.
On November 1, 1946, Bud was united in marriage to Arlene Shewmaker at Union City, Tennessee. The couple made their home on the family farm near Mountain Lake, where they raised their family.
Bud loved the land; he farmed a good part of his life, later renting out his land. Bud enjoyed hunting, fishing, bird-watching and family camping trips, which were always memorable. He was a longtime member of the Darfur Sportsman’s Club.
Bud was quick with his humor and loved to whistle. He loved his numerous German Shorthair dogs. Bud loved spending time with his grandchildren, family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Arlene Franz of Mountain Lake; children, Margaret Ringham and fiancé Jim Kliewer of Westbrook, Minnesota, Elaine (Roger) Kvam of Austin, Minnesota, Linda Franz of Portland, Oregon, Martin (Vavaluk) Franz of Loveland, Colorado and Andrew (Rebecca) Franz of Lake City, Minnesota; a sister, Doris (Hiens) Kendal of Rochester, Minnesota; a brother, Stephen (Patricia) Franz of Richardson, Texas; 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a great-grandson, and a sister, Phyllis Mattson.