Francis Martin
Francis A. Martin, 89, of Waukon died Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 5 at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until time of service at the church Friday. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick School or the Waukon Good Samaritan Center.
Francis Anthony Martin was born January 8, 1928 in Waukon, the son of Henry and Marie Lillian (A’Hearn) Martin. He attended Jefferson #8 rural school and graduated from St. Patrick High School in Waukon with the Class of 1946. From September of 1946 until March of 1948 he served in the U.S. Army as an engineering aide, seeing all of his duty in White Sands, NM. Following his discharge he returned to Waukon, where June 21, 1949 he married Janet Iona Schmidt at St. Patrick Catholic Church.
Frank had a number of different jobs during his long career in business. He worked at the J.C. Penney store in Waukon from 1948 to 1950 before managing the Western Auto Store during 1950 and 1951. From 1951 until 1954 he and Janet lived in Cedar Rapids, where he worked at Collins Radio. After his return to Waukon he owned and operated the Soda Grill and the Waukon Dairy. In 1966 he became a co-founder of the Quandahl-Martin Ford dealership, which he owned and operated until 1977. Frank continued selling cars with Schneden Auto and McMillan Auto until fully retiring in 1993.
Frank was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, American Legion Post 62 and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed going dancing and bowling. He liked following several sports but was particularly fond of baseball and the Chicago Cubs. Being with and enjoying his grandchildren was very special to Frank. He and his wife enjoyed wintering in Las Vegas and dining out. He always enjoyed a good cigar.
Survivors include his children: Jean Ann O’Connell of Waukon, David of Waterloo, Deb (Joe) Geno of Rochester, MN, Jeff (Lori) of Waukon and Greg (Jan) of New Providence, NJ; his grandchildren: Marty (Wendi) Geno, Nicole (Chris) Kalkbrenner, Adam (Megan) Martin, Caitlin O’Connell, Alison (Johnathan) Erb, Brendan Martin and Courtney Martin; his great-grandchildren: Emma and Addison Geno, Conor Kalkbrenner and Boden Martin; three sisters: Mary (Dale) Mohwinkle of Marion, Arlene Soderberg of Rochester, MN and Shirley Murphy of San Diego, CA; two brothers, John (Kathy) Martin of Hoopston, IL and Jerry (Louise) Martin of Huntington, IN; a brother-in-law, Herbert “Bud” (Kathy) Schmidt of Waterville; and a sister-in-law, Rosie Martin of Cedar Rapids. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Janet, who died December 21, 2009; a son-in-law, Bob O’Connell; a sister, Helen (Bud) Stillwell; a brother, Clair Martin; and a brother-in-law, Ernie Murphy.
Frank’s grandchildren and their spouses will serve as casketbearers.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
