Eleanor W. Franz

Eleanor Wanda Reimer Franz, was born on 29 November 1934 (Thanksgiving Day), to Frank and Tina Reimer. She was born in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, and was raised there in the Mennonite Brethren church. She attended the Mountain Lake bible school, and graduated from Mountain Lake Public School in 1952.

Eleanor gave her life to Christ in the 6th Grade, during one of the annual revival meetings in town, and she was baptized in the Mountain Lake. She said that she lived as a “simple” Christian, and was grateful that she could follow her Lord and Saviour with that simple faith for the rest of her life.

Eleanor attended Tabor College, in Hillsboro, Kansas. There she met Harold Franz, and soon after her freshman year, he proposed and they were married. Their first two years together they lived in Topeka and worked at the Menninger Psychiatric Clinic, as Harold served his time as a conscientious objector.

In 1956, they moved back to Mountain Lake, where Harold went into insurance and Eleanor worked in the medical field. She was also very involved in church, doing everything from church secretary, pianist, and soprano in the choir. While in Mountain Lake they were blessed with three daughters, Chris, Debbie, and Susan. She loved being a mom and this became her number one priority.

Later, she returned to school, attending Mankato State and graduating with a nursing degree in 1983. She worked for years in nursing homes, alzheimers units, and later as a hospice nurse.

In 1983, they moved to Sioux Falls, where they helped plant a church and later they moved to Wichita, and settled here. They lived comfortably here until 2020, when Harold passed away. Eleanor continued to live at the Grand, where she was well cared for over the years.

She passed away appropriately enough, on Good Friday, 18 April 2025.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Harold E. Franz. 

She is survived by her daughters, Chris (Al) O’Bannon, Debbie (Tom) Hardy and Susan (John) Koslowsky; grandchildren, Lucas and Amanda Karschnik, Alicia and Jeremy Schwanke, Ashley and Bryan Standerwick, Tina and Ricky Pogue, Matthew and Heather Lange, Micah Hardy, Ben Hardy, Peter and Melanie Hardy, and David and Roslyn Hardy; and great-grandchildren, Chase, Ryleigh, Abel, Raigan, Aleigha, Jayleigh, Alexander, Maximus, Leonidas, Hayli, Elizabeth, Matilda, Tommy, Parker, Adriana, Sofia, Benjamin, Luna, Wrenn, and RJ. She is also survived by her brother Roger, and Harold’s siblings, Lawanda Franz, Leo Franz, and Mike Franz.

A visitation with family will be held from 4:00-6:00 pm, Sunday, May 4, with a Celebration of Life service at 11:00 am on Monday, May 5, both at Ridgepoint Church.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with Tabor College, 400 S. Jefferson, Hillsboro, KS 67063.