6/23/14 – 8/27/97

George A. Franke, 83, of Nickerson died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997, at Arbor Manor in Fremont.

Services were Saturday at First Christian Church in Fremont. Pastor W. Ronald Johnson officiated. Burial was in Memorial Cemetery at Fremont.

Franke was born June 23, 1914, at Fontanelle to George and Wilhelmine (Kaempf) Franke. He grew up and attended school at Fontanelle. He farmed near Fontanelle until 1972. He then moved to Nickerson and started work at Valmont Industries in Valley, where he worked in the shipping and receiving department until retiring in 1980. On Dec. 25, 1944, he married Margaret Wulbern. She preceded him in death. On Sept. 20, 1975, he married Gladys J. Brokaw Whittington.

He was a member of First Christian Church and a former Salem Lutheran Church member; was superintendent of the Sunday School for many years; served on the Fontanelle School board and was a 4-H leader for many years.

Survivors are his wife, Gladys; a son and daughter-in-law, George and Karen Franke of Omaha; a daughter and son-in-law, Maralee and Jim Taylor of Wahoo; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Chester and Janet Franke of Scottsbluff and Herbert and Alberta Franke of Fremont; a sister, Helen Franke of Fremont and four grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and his first wife, he was also preceded in death by three sisters.

Pallbearers were Mike McMurtry, Dan McMurtry, Leland Brokaw, Don Andersen, Kent Andersen and Max West.

Honorary pallbearers were Kevin Andersen, Kelly Andersen, Kris Andersen, Darrel Laaker, T. J. Taylor and Ray Hoeneman.

Memorials may be given to First Christian Church.