Obituary of Francis Brecht

Surviving are 3 daughters: Ruth Ann (Duane) Taylor of Huxley, Iowa, Eileen Lafrenz of Washington, Illinois and Mary Jean Brecht of Mission, Kansas and 5 granddaughters: Sarah, Dawn and Wendy Taylor, Mandy (Rob) Sanders and Kate Lafrenz. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anselma, on December 21, 1997, a granddaughter, Renee Lafrenz, a son-in-law, Russ Lafrenz, brothers: Peter, John, George, Leo, Nick, Aloysius and Victor Brecht; sisters: Katie Gassmann, Lena Liddiard, Emma Ungs, Marie Jaeger, Lorraine Pfeiler and Harriet Davidshofer. Francis was born December 3, 1915, in Holy Cross, Iowa the son of Philip and Barbara (Rausch) Brecht. He entered the US Army on June 24, 1941 and was discharged on November 15, 1945. On May 7, 1946 he married Anselma A. Pfeiler in Holy Cross, Iowa. Francis was an owner/operator of the Shell Oil Delivery Service for 32 years, retiring on January 1, 1978. He was also a Pioneer Seed Dealer for 27 years and a bus driver for the Western Dubuque School System. As a lifelong resident of Holy Cross, Francis was a member of the Holy Cross Parish, the Holy Cross Athletic Club, the Holy Cross Volunteer Fire Department, the Holy Cross City Council and he served as the Concord Township Clerk. For these civic activities he earned the Holy Cross Citizen of the Year Award. Friends may call from 2 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2006, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Holy Cross, Iowa where a parish scripture service will be held at 3 p.m. and the Scherrman-Peterson American Legion Post 656 will meet at 7 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Holy Cross, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. American Legion Post 656 will accord military honors. Memorials are preferred to the Holy Cross Fire Department.