Willard James Franz

Willard James Franz was born on August 16, 1929, in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, to Peter P and Mary (Linscheid) Franz. He attended country school as a boy and later the Mountain Lake Public School. He was baptized at age 16 and remained a lifelong faithful member of Bethel Mennonite Church. He became a farmer as a young man and continued to enjoy his life's work until retirement. Willard was married to Marlys Gunderson on September 4, 1960. They lived on their farm north of Mountain Lake until they moved to St. James in 2009. Willard loved to watch the Minnesota Vikings, Timberwolves, and Gopher football and basketball on TV, listen to country music, travel, and spend time with his family and friends. Willard is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Bev and Jon Lowe, Apple Valley, and Karen and Bill Haley, Waseca; grandchildren Stephanie Lowe and Adam Lowe; brother and sister-in-law Harris and Lorraine Franz, New Ulm; sister-in-law Dorothy Gunderson, Litchfield; nieces, nephews and special friend, Phyllis Wilth. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Marlys in 2011; sisters Wilma Krause and Marcie Wiebe; infant brother Harlin; sisters-in-law Marilyn Judd and Marcy Radunz; brothers-in-law David Krause, Abe Wiebe, Wendell Gunderson, Wilbur Judd and Don Radunz; and two nieces.