Franz, Allyn R.

Allyn R. Franz, 65, of Iowa City, died peacefully at his home Tuesday, March 22, 2011. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 26, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Burial, with military honors: Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Allyn Ray Franz was born March 28, 1945, in McGregor, Iowa, the son of Alvin and Charlotte (Davies) Franz. Following graduation from McGregor High School in 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving during the Vietnam War. He was united in marriage to Judith Faye Lee on June 25, 1967, in McGregor. The following year, the couple moved to Iowa City, where Allyn worked for the former Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric, now MidAmerican Energy. After 30 years of service he retired in December 1997.

Allyn was a man who, as they say never met a stranger, he loved to visit with everyone, his neighbors, the mailman, people at the southeast Iowa City Fareway Store, First Avenue HyVee, down at the bowling alley, or when they would be camping at the reservoir, he loved people, and everyone loved Al!

Over the years he has belonged to the American Legion, Moose Lodge, bowled for years at Plamor Lanes, and looked forward to the camping season every year for the past 30 some years.

Al was a sport enthusiast to say the least - he was a loyal Hawkeye, Green Bay Packer and St. Louis Cardinals fan; supported City High School Little Hawks even after his children had graduated and Des Moines Hoover High School, where his grandchildren attend. When his daughter attended ISU, he would cheer them on except when they played the Hawks!

But most important to Al was his family: Judy, his wife; his two children, then grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren, meant the world to him, and him to them!

His family includes his wife, Judy; daughter, Jennifer Peter (Brian) of Des Moines; son, Jeff Franz (Cathe) of Iowa City; grandchildren, Anya, Tommy, Laina and Molly Peter and Andrew and Nile Franz; great-grandchildren, Joey Jacobson and Nadya Caroline Peter; his mother, Charlotte Franz of McGregor; brother, Tom Franz (Gerri) of Cedar Rapids; father-in-law, Donald Lee of Ada, Minn.; a brother-in-law, Dewey Lee (Stephanie) of Warroad, Minn.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his memory to the Iowa City VA Health Care System c/o Volunteer Services.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at