116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Frances Michael
FRANCES ELAINE MICHAEL
Iowa City
Frances Elaine Michael, 92, of Iowa City, died Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Solon Nursing Care Center.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.
at Lensing's Oak Hill, 210 Holiday Rd. in Coralville. A rosary will begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, rural Hills.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the University of Iowa Holden Cancer Center, St. Wenceslaus Church or the Richard and Frances Michael Family Scholarship Fund (with the Regina Foundation).
Frances was born Nov. 13, 1925, in Franklin County, Iowa, the daughter of Theodore and Gertrude (Berninghausen) Beenen. Frances grew up in Alexander, Iowa, and after graduation from Alexander High School, received her nursing degree from Marshalltown Mercy Hospital Nursing School.
Frances was united in marriage to Richard Michael on Feb. 8, 1952, at St. Wenceslaus Church. Frances and Richard celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in 2013.
She worked as a registered nurse for Mercy Hospital in both Marshalltown and Iowa City.
Frances was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a model mother, a wonderful listener and a special friend. Frances always took the time to teach both children and grandchildren how to sew and cook; her unconditional love was shown in everything she did. From the potato salad to the chocolate frosting, everything she made was with love, including her family.
Survivors include her children: daughters, Barbara Dietz (Bryan) of Iowa City, Pamela Tanaka (Richard) of Hopkins, Minn., Susan Michael, Patricia Michael and Jana Michael, all of Iowa City; son, Robert Michael (Cathy Zaharis) of Iowa City; grandchildren, Molly Dietz, Jennifer Dietz Castillo (Anthony), Sara Dietz, Michael Tanaka (Courtney), Jeffrey Tanaka, Randall Tanaka, Lauren Michael O'Neil (Dan) and Gregory Michael; great-grandchildren, Grace and Emma Castillo, Henry Tanaka, Robert, Theodore and Baby O'Neil; and brothers, William Beenen of Belmond, Iowa, and Robert Berninghausen of Belmont, Calif.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Richard.
www.lensingfuneral.com
Daily Newsletters