08/30/2012
Francis Junior Furcht was born on April 9, 1923, to Florence Francis and Maggie Scott Furcht in Knoxville, Iowa. He passed away Thursday, August 30, 2012, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House at the age of eighty-nine.
Francis received his early education in the Knoxville Schools and attended Knoxville High School through the eleventh grade.
He entered the military in 1943 and served in Patton’s Army Infantry with the AntiAirc raft Division.
He saw action in Normandy Rhineland, Northern France, and Central Campaign in Europe.
He was honorably discharged on November 7, 1945.
After the war, he re-enlisted and served in the Army Occupational Forces in Frankfurt, Germany.
He was honorably discharged on April 18, 1947, at Fort Dixon, New Jersey. He received a WWII Victory Medal.
On October 2, 1948, Francis was united in marriage with Beverly Den Hartog. To this union, three daughters were born: Wanda, Arlene, and Karen.
Francis and Beverly raised their family on the farm. They farmed for forty years, then moved to Pella.
Francis was a member of the Third Reformed Church all his married life.
He was also a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed farming and was known as a hard worker.
Francis had a pilot’s license all his life.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Beverly of Pella; his three daughters: Wanda Brom of Des Moines,
Arlene (Dave) Parthun of LaPorte, Indiana, and Karen Fitzsimmons of Pella; seven grandchildren; one sister,
Alberta Clark and her husband Don of Knoxville, Iowa; and two nephews: Mike Clark of Des Moines, Iowa, and Dennis Clark of Oceanside, California.
He was preceded in death by his parents.