Beverly Jean Franzen, 89, of Loves Park passed away peacefully on April 15, 2018. She was born November 4, 1928 in Rockford, Illinois to Violet M. (Nelson) and Ralph E. Engstrom. Her mother died when she was eight. Her father married Judith Mork and she became her “Mom.” She graduated from East High School in 1946 and from the Evangelical Free Church Bible Institute in Chicago in 1948. She worked for the Rockford Board of Education as an elementary school secretary until starting to raise her family. She married George W. Franzen on April 27, 1951 in Rockford. They lived in Rockton for 49 years. He predeceased her on October 28, 2000. She grew up attending First Evangelical Free Church and was involved in the early years of Hope Evangelical Free Church of Roscoe. Since 1976 she has been a member of City First Church where she served on the funeral luncheon committee and Homebound Ministries. She enjoyed puzzles and working in the garden for many years at Sunset Christian Life Retirement Home where she lived since December 2002.
Survived by her children, Gary (Karen) Franzen, David (Denise) Franzen, Karen Moore; grandchildren, Zachary Moore, Tiffany Buss, Jacob Moore; brother, Rev. R. Wesley (Carol) Engstrom; sister, Kathleen (Jeffery) Munson. Predeceased by her parents; spouse, George; step-mother, Judith Holmertz.
Funeral Service at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 20 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd, Machesney Park. Visitation at 3 p.m. until time of service. Private Family burial at a later date in Sunset Memorial Gardens. To share a condolence www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com
