Funeral services for Worth Wendell Franke will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2013, in the St. Mary’s Queen of Peace Catholic Church Brownwood, Texas. Interment will follow at the Millersview Cemetery in Concho County. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Heartland Funeral Home Early.
Wendell was born January 26, 1937, in Millersview, Texas, to Dallas Worth and Jesse Maude McClure Franke. He passed away Monday June 3, 2013, in Brownwood, at the age of 76. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, golf and anything that allowed him to be out with nature. He and Jo Ann Strube Bruchmiller were married November 3, 1982. He served as a deacon in the Paint Rock Baptist Church. Wendell was a member of the St. Mary’s Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Brownwood. He and Jo Ann served on the Parish Council at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Brady. He was engaged in farming and ranching for a number of years. He was a member of the Early and Paint Rock Lions Club and the Brady Rotary Club. Wendell was active in youth livestock shows. He was active in volunteer work in each community he lived in. He was owner and operator of a Texaco gas station in Ballinger. His career was primarily in the banking industry for over 35 years. He served in Abilene, Dallas, Paint Rock and Brady. He was president of the First State Bank in Paint Rock and senior vice-president of the Brady National Bank in Brady. After his banking career he was employed at Leatherwood Funeral Home in Brady, he was the pro shop manager of the Brady Golf Course, Higginbotham Lumber Company in Early and Heartland Funeral Home of Early.
Wendell is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Franke of Brownwood; son, Bruce and his wife Stacey Franke of San Angelo; daughter Brigette and husband Ross Schroeder of Christoval, son Todd Franke of Brownwood, daughter, Tonya and husband Kirk Blakesley of Fort Worth; son, Tyler and wife Jennifer Franke of Fort Worth; step-daughter, Charlyn and husband J.D. Doyle of Christoval; and step-son, Randy and wife Sarah Bruchmiller of Humble. He is also survived by a sister, Miguonne and husband Phillip West of Rankin. Wendell is also survived by his grandchildren. Grandsons Dallas and Taylor Franke of San Angelo, Grady Reid of Christoval, Aaron and Kenton Blakesley of Fort Worth and Reid Bruchmiller of Humble; granddaughters Sydney Franke of San Angelo, Preslie Reid of Christoval, Kendra and husband Brandon Byars of Brownwood, Kami and husband Tony Alverado of Fort Worth, Katelyn and Kelsey Blakesley of Ft. Worth, Jillian and Jacquelyn Franke of Ft. Worth and Anna Bruchmiller of Humble. He is also survived by a great- grandson, Gary Wiedebusch of Brownwood and two nieces, Phyllis Saathoff and family and Christy Matteck and family, all of Lake Jackson.
Wendell is preceded in death by his parents Dallas Worth and Jesse Maude Franke.
Heartland Funeral Home of Early is in charge of arrangements.
