Frances Leone Slifer, 86, of Wellsburg, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the Doyen-Abels Funeral Home in Wellsburg. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 21. 2015 at the United Reformed Church in Wellsburg. Burial will be held at the Hazel Green Cemetery in Ackley, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Fran was born on March 14, 1929 in German Township, Grundy County, Iowa. She was the daughter of John and Lillian (Fricken) Lindaman. Fran graduated from Wellsburg High School and was known in town for helping her father deliver milk before school, later she worked at Okones Implement and as a nurse's aide for a time. She was united in marriage to her husband Ivan Slifer on March 7, 1949 at the parsonage of the Second Christian Reformed Church. Together they welcomed four sons into their family. Ivan and Fran also hosted a foreign exchange student from Denmark, Arne Hertz, whom they considered their fifth son.
Fran was a long-time member of the United Reformed Church in Wellsburg. There she served the church as a member of Helping Hands and the Willing Workers. She loved reading, gardening and bird watching, especially cardinals. Fran loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing with her husband and family. She also enjoyed maintaining her farm long-side her husband Ivan. However, her true joy in life came from spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Fran is survived by her sons Steven (Betty) of Filer, ID, Sidney (Beth) of Wellsburg, Spencer (Cindy) of Wellsburg and her exchange son Arne (Silke) Hertz of Denmark; her grandchildren Shane (Erin) Slifer, Nick (Tarah) Slifer, Andy Slifer and Elsy Slifer; her step-grandchildren Jeremy (Tami) Maas, Zach (Robin) Maas and Courtney (Pat) Hurt; 13 great-grandchildren and her nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ivan; her son Stuart; her sister Isabel and her brother Arnold.