1938
Francis
2007
Francis Belknap
March 28, 1938 — September 11, 2007
Francis M. Belknap, 69, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, died while being with his loving family on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 15, 2007 at the Eldora United Methodist Church in Eldora, Iowa with Pastor Richard Boatman officiating. Burial will follow in the Steamboat Rock Cemetery with military honors provided by Hoover-Eiserman American Legion Post #542. Visitation is from 5 pm to 8 pm on Friday at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora. A memorial fund has been established in his name.
Francis was born March 28, 1938 in Greene, Iowa, son of Marion E. Belknap and Marian E. (Marsh) Belknap Wood. He was raised east of Greene on the family farm and graduated from Greene High School in 1956. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving from 1960-1962. He served in Germany as an ammo truck-driver and sharp-shooter and attained the rank of Private First Class.
On December 28, 1972 Francis was united in marriage to Deanne "Dee" Wendland in Yankton, South Dakota. Francis and his family moved to an acreage near Eldora in 1973, and in July of 2006 Francis and Dee relocated to Steamboat Rock. He was employed as a truck driver for United Suppliers for 26 years retiring in 2003, and last spring enjoyed driving part time for the Eldora Green House. He was a member of the Eldora United Methodist Church. Francis loved spending time with his family and grandchildren and also enjoyed flower gardening, wood crafting and rock collecting. He will also be missed by his beloved dogs Tabitha and Tippy.
He is survived by his wife, Dee; mother, Marian Wood of Marble Rock, Iowa; Children, Roger Belknap and Christina of Estherville, Marsha and Stuart Pettigrew of Eldora, Rodney and Shawn Garrington of Wellsburg; mother-in-law, Delores Wendland of Eldora; grandchildren, Brent and Mandy Pettigrew, Heath and Hope Belknap, and Isaac Carpentier; sisters, Kay (Frank) Troutner of Nashua, Karen (Noel) Mizell of St. Charles, Missouri; brothers-in-law, Wally (Judy) Wendland of Fort Dodge and Roger (Ruth) Wendland of Omaha; sisters-in-law, Joann (Dana) Weisenborn of Oswego, Illinois and Connie (Stan) Lumbra of Tucson, Arizona; and by many nieces and nephews who all called him "Popeye". Preceding him in death was his father, Marion; step-father, Gordon Wood; and father-in-law, Henry Wendland.
Francis was born March 28, 1938 in Greene, Iowa, son of Marion E. Belknap and Marian E. (Marsh) Belknap Wood. He was raised east of Greene on the family farm and graduated from Greene High School in 1956. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving from 1960-1962. He served in Germany as an ammo truck-driver and sharp-shooter and attained the rank of Private First Class.
On December 28, 1972 Francis was united in marriage to Deanne "Dee" Wendland in Yankton, South Dakota. Francis and his family moved to an acreage near Eldora in 1973, and in July of 2006 Francis and Dee relocated to Steamboat Rock. He was employed as a truck driver for United Suppliers for 26 years retiring in 2003, and last spring enjoyed driving part time for the Eldora Green House. He was a member of the Eldora United Methodist Church. Francis loved spending time with his family and grandchildren and also enjoyed flower gardening, wood crafting and rock collecting. He will also be missed by his beloved dogs Tabitha and Tippy.
He is survived by his wife, Dee; mother, Marian Wood of Marble Rock, Iowa; Children, Roger Belknap and Christina of Estherville, Marsha and Stuart Pettigrew of Eldora, Rodney and Shawn Garrington of Wellsburg; mother-in-law, Delores Wendland of Eldora; grandchildren, Brent and Mandy Pettigrew, Heath and Hope Belknap, and Isaac Carpentier; sisters, Kay (Frank) Troutner of Nashua, Karen (Noel) Mizell of St. Charles, Missouri; brothers-in-law, Wally (Judy) Wendland of Fort Dodge and Roger (Ruth) Wendland of Omaha; sisters-in-law, Joann (Dana) Weisenborn of Oswego, Illinois and Connie (Stan) Lumbra of Tucson, Arizona; and by many nieces and nephews who all called him "Popeye". Preceding him in death was his father, Marion; step-father, Gordon Wood; and father-in-law, Henry Wendland.
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