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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Behrend, Francis
Francis Behrend was born the son of William and Louisa (Geick) Behrend on May 1, 1917, on the family farm near Millville. He was baptized Oct. 31, 1927, by the Rev. R.R. Belter and made affirmation of his baptism on March 29, 1931, by the Rev. James Sopko.
He passed away April 14, 2010, at the Guttenberg Care Center, with his son and daughter by his side.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 19, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, with the Rev. Harold McMillin officiating. Interment will be at Friedlein Cemetery, rural Millville. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Guttenberg, and one hour before services Monday at the church.
Francis attended Friedlein School in rural Millville and graduated from the Guttenberg High School in 1935. After graduation he taught one year at the Friedlein School and then went on to farm the family farm for years. That farm will become a Century Farm this year. Francis was united in marriage with Ida Mae Heins on Sept. 24, 1947, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa. This union was blessed with two children. Francis and Ida Mae farmed together until her death in 2000.
Francis was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, the Farm Bureau and the Northeast Iowa Antique Association. He was very active in the church for most of his life. He served faithfully on the church council and committees for many years and late in life volunteered to be a steward to distribute Holy Communion to shut-ins.
His interests included woodworking, genealogy (authored several books), attending auctions, following Iowa Hawkeye football, basketball and Chicago Cubs games, Civil War and World War II history, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
Francis' memory will be forever cherished by his children, Bob Behrend of Colesburg and Patricia (Walter) Loukota of Cedar Rapids; and his grandchildren, Ryan Loukota of Tucson, Ariz., and Kristen Loukota of Iowa City.
Francis was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ida Mae; sister, Alvina Anderegg; and his three brothers, Herbert, Wilmer and Elmo Behrend.
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