Franz arrived from Stuttgart, Germany in 1956, as a factory trained mechanic when Porsche was introduced to the US. It was during his work in Miami that he met the love of his life, Sheran Ann Terry (Plant City, FL). After moving to Jacksonville, Franz opened his own business, Franz Foreign Car Service in 1968. Franz was also instrumental in bringing soccer to Jacksonville and served as both coach and team manager of Jacksonville’s first soccer team, The Spiders from 1964-68.
Franz is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sheran, son Franz, Jr. (Anita), daughter Debra Lerch Baskin (David), grandchildren, Leslie, Anna, Joshua, and Julianna, all of Jacksonville and a sister, Irma Trabandt of Stade, Germany.
A visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St. Johns Bluff Road N. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 11:00 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Chapel Hills Memory Gardens.
The family requests flowers or memorial donations to Neurology Research at Mayo Clinic.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hardage-giddenschapelhills.com
