Obituary for Joel Allen Franz

Joel Allen Franz, born April 30th, 1957; Departed July 3rd, 2024.  

Joel, who preferred to be called Earl, was the second son of the Reverand Leroy and Barbara (Otto) Franz.  He was born in the Hennepin County Hospital in Minneapolis and grew up in Henderson, Minnesota and Garner, Iowa.  He graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School with honors and went on to Iowa State University, where he studied many things, including Russian language and culture.

After college he remained in Ames, Iowa where he had several careers over his lifetime, including as a chef, preparing meals for executives riding in the Dining cars of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Joel was a voracious reader with a lot of intellectual curiosity.  He also developed a reputation as a bit of a gadfly with the Ames City Council members, holding their feet to the fire, keeping them on the up and up about everything that happened in the city of Ames. Joel retired early and led a simple life in his Grinnell apartment.

He had a sharp wit and a wide range of interests, including music from artists that most of us have never heard of, and vexillology – the study of flags.  He was a lifetime member of the US Chess Federation. He also was a member of the community and Grinnell College Libraries. He preferred walking or biking versus driving for short excursions. 

He will be missed. He is survived by his brother Brian (Lori) Franz of Marion, IA, and several aunts and uncles, and numerous cousins.  

A memorial service will be held on August 7th at 1 PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 800 Bluff St NE, Hutchinson, Minnesota. The Reverand Mitchell Otto will be the celebrant. There will be a luncheon directly after the service. A private room for the luncheon has been reserved with Squeaky's Grill and Bar next to the Hutch Bowl at 1150 Highway 7 West in Hutchinson. If you plan to attend, including the luncheon, please R.S.V.P. to brianfranz56@gmail.com so we can tell the restaurant how many to expect.