Francis Conger

FRANCIS R. CONGER

Keswick

Francis R. Conger, 79, of Keswick, died Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, at Sigourney Care Center in Sigourney.

He was born Sunday, Sept. 6, 1936, in Ollie, Iowa, the son of Farris and Laura Sipe Conger. He graduated from Ollie High School with the class of 1955. Following school, Francis went to work at Kaser's, first at Ollie and later at Keswick, as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver and supervisor. He retired in 2005. Following retirement, Francis went to work for Keokuk County Highway Department.

Francis enjoyed car racing, beer, football, working on his yard, shining up his Jeep, old Western movies and traveling to Florida to visit Jerry. Francis was a member of the Ollie Justice Lodge 230.

His family includes his son, Jerry (Mitzi) Conger of Panama City, Fla.; a daughter, Barbara (Michael) Peden of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren. Cory Popejoy and family of Kalona, Jessica Isler and family of Panama City, Fla., Patrick Conger of Panama City, Fla., Dana Cox and family of Cedar Rapids and Stephanie Roberts and family of Atlanta, Ga.; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a great-grandson, Samuel Popejoy; three brothers, Harold, Richard and Ronald "Butch" Conger; a sister, Shirley Andeway; and a sister in infancy.

As a final act of giving, Francis donated his body to the University of Iowa.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Keswick American Legion Post 319 in Keswick, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. and visitation will continue following the service. Burial will be at a later date in the Mount Zion Cemetery near Martinsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Francis Conger Memorial Fund.