Francis Fangman

FRANCIS W. FANGMAN

Epworth

Francis W. Fangman, 91, of Dubuque, formerly of Epworth, Iowa, passed away Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, at Mercy One Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Visitation for Francis will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa. Visitation will also be held after 9 a.m., Wednesday at the funeral home. The family is requesting that everyone in attendance wear a mask. Anyone wishing to send memorials may send them to Reiff Funeral Home, Attn: Francis Fangman Family, P.O. Box 99, Farley, IA 52046. A Mass of Christian Burial for Francis will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Epworth with the Rev. Michael Schueller presiding. Burial will be held in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Epworth.

He was born May 13, 1930, in Earlville, Iowa, the son of Frank and Hilda (Bockenstedt) Fangman. He received his education in Billhorn Country Schools in Manchester, Iowa. On April 16, 1952, he was united in marriage to Esther G. Trenkamp at St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa. She preceded him in death on Feb. 3, 2003. On Dec. 24, 2004, he was united in marriage to Janet Busch at St. Patrick's in Epworth.

He began his trucking career driving for Walt Burds and Dave McAndrew Trucking. He then went to Flynn Ready Mix and drove a cement mixer for 23 years until his retirement, after which he was a bus driver for Western Dubuque Schools for 12 years. He was also a custodian for St. Patrick's in Epworth for three years. He was a member of St. Patrick's Parish in Epworth and its altar and rosary society, a member of the Teamsters Union and Farm Bureau.

He was an avid fisherman and hunter in his younger years. He enjoyed camping, and winters in Texas in his retirement years, and he always enjoyed a good game of euchre.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Busch of Dubuque, Iowa; five children, Diane (Merlin) Gehrke of Davenport, Iowa, Patty (Jim) Leibold of Epworth, Larry (Cheryl) Fangman of Omaha, Neb., Ken (Donna) Fangman of Farley, Iowa, and Kevin Fangman of Des Moines, Iowa; his stepchildren, Julie (Jim) Gross, Jeff (Lynn) Justice and Tom (Jodi) Johnson; his grandchildren, Beth Hall, Mike Leibold, Michelle Phillips, Hans (Bailey) Keimig-Gehrke, Adam Fangman, Cara (Elaine) Fangman and Derek Fangman; 11 stepgrandchildren; his great-grandchildren, Ty and Beau Hall, Lauren and Addilyn Leibold and Fred, Rory and Esther Phillips; six stepgreat-grandchildren; his siblings, Vernice Knutsen of Sigourney, Iowa, Vincent (Joan) Fangman of Ashland, Neb., Theodore (Martie) Fangman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Gerald (Lorraine) Fangman of Arvada, Colo.; and three sisters-in-law, Pat Fangman of Elkader, Iowa, and Sally Trenkamp and Kathleen Trenkampm both of Dyersville, Iowa.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Aaron Gehrke, on Feb. 11, 2020; his siblings and in-laws, Estelle (Ed) Ruff, James (Rita and Emma) Fangman, Mary (Cyril Berns and Roy) Eulberg, Juanita (Don) Loeffelholz, Bernard Fangman and Bernadette Fangman and John Knudsen; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Hilda (Ray) Vorwald, Edmund Trenkamp, Mary Trenkamp, Frank Trenkamp, Ralph Trenkamp, Emma Trenkamp, Albert Trenkamp and Elmer, in infancy.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.

The family would like to thank the staff on the COVID-19 unit at MercyOne in Dubuque.