Charles "Chuck" Franzke

Charles “Chuck” Franzke was born in Wellington, Kansas 1925 to Lanora Ann and Edward Franzke. Being oldest of three boys he was expected to set the example. Throughout life, he claimed that his brothers were his best friends. Lanora ran an organized home; each boy had a weekly household chore that rotated. Roger, his brother, said that all the mothers wanted their daughters to marry the Franzke boys.

During World War II, a test was administered at Topeka High to identify boys who qualified for officer’s training. Due to Chuck’s gift with math, he attained the highest score and was admitted into the V12 Program at age 17. He then attended college at Northwestern in Chicago and trained to be an officer. At the young age of 19, he became an officer and was assigned to a destroyer in the South Pacific. At the ripe age of 20 he returned home, a veteran, an officer and always a gentleman.

After the war, with the G.I Bill, part-time jobs, and $20 borrowed and repaid to his dad, he earned a BBA degree from the University of Kansas. Chuck was accepted into the Executive Development Program at Macy’s Department Stores which launched his retail career. Rising quickly through the ranks, he became a Vice President of Macy’s as General Merchandise Manager. He became known as a problem solver and was hired to be President, at 29 the youngest ever, of Lansburgh’s Department Store in Washington, D.C., then hired away to be President at Hochschild Kohn Department Stores, Baltimore, Maryland, and finally by William Dillard to be the CEO of the division of Dillard’s Department Store which included South Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana. During his leadership tenure with Dillard’s, the number of stores expanded from 8 to 41 by building new ones and acquiring Joskes and D.H. Holmes.

In 1948 Chuck married Alice Wright, his high school sweetheart, and strongest supporter as he climbed the corporate ladder. They started a family and adopted two children, John Roger and Dorothy Jane. Their small family experienced deep tragedy when cancer struck their family taking John’s life in his early 30’s, Jane’s life in her 30’s and in 1990 his beloved Alice.

In 1993, Chuck married Mary Ann Isom Gabbert at Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, where he joined and quietly lived out his faith in a supportive role as a member of the Foundation Board. He helped aspiring business owners thru his volunteer work with the Service Core of Executives (SCORE) and was awarded “Outstanding Member” for his faithful service of 20 years. During this time in his life, he played tennis 3 times a week on the Senior League at Thousand Oaks until he was 89 years-old. He had a goal of retiring and traveling the world, which he did with Mary Ann.

Chuck woke up every morning wearing a smile, thinking positively, and appreciating the help of others. He would express his gratitude by saying, “The good Lord has blessed and looked after me throughout life.”

He is pre-deceased by his parents, by his first wife, Dr. Alice Franzke, his son John Franzke, his daughter Jane Blackmon, brothers John (wife Nancy) and Roger. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; his daughters, Gretchen (Daniel) Downs, Gwen (Mark) Baird, Dawn Chung and grandchildren, Lillie, Charlie, John William Baird and James Tate Downs, sister- in- law, Madlyn Franzke and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

According to Chuck’s wishes, there will be a small service for family members. If you wish to honor Chuck’s memory, donations may be made to the UTSA, Chuck Franzke Endowed Scholarship, UTSA Gift Services, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249, 210-458-4130, https://business.utsa.edu/. Chuck would be pleased to know that a young person is being helped.