White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Gary W. “Franko” Franck, 66 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Sunday, January 26, 2014, at the Buchanan County Health Center.  He was born on September 8, 1947, in Independence, Iowa, the son of Walter and Lucille Frances (Eagan) Franck, Jr.  He graduated from high school in Independence with the Class of 1966.  He served in Germany with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.  After completing his military service, Mr. Franck graduated from the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He was a pneumatic fitter until retiring in 2005.  Since then he has driven long haul trucks, most recently for Warren Transport in Waterloo.  Mr. Franck was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Bechter-Boise V.F.W. Post #2440, both in Independence and the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union Local #125 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  His family and his friends were priorities in his life.  He also enjoyed NASCAR racing.

Mr. Franck is survived by his mother, Lucille Franck of Independence, 4 sisters, Linda (Phil) Boelter of Edina, Minnesota, and Carol (Doug) Beier, Vicki Jo (Gary) McClintock, and Mary Kay (Daryl) Johnson, all of Independence, and his life partner, Denise Lynn Pennington of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence with Pastor Kurt Bockoven and Pastor Mark Doidge officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29^th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence where a Military Service begins at 7:30 p.m.