Glenn Martin Franson, Sr.

Loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle and grandfather, Glenn M. Franson, Sr. lost his long hard fought battle with Early Onset Parkinson's Disease on February 3, 2014, at approximately 10:00 a.m. at Westover Hills Rehabilitation and Care Center, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, surrounded by his adoring family.

Mr. Franson was the oldest son and was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn Forrest Franson and Dorothy Werner Franson. He was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on January 1, 1947 and was raised in the small rural town of Pittsville, Wisconsin until he entered the military.

He was educated in private and public schools in Pittsville, Wisconsin, then attended the University of Wisconsin. During the War in Viet Nam he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Air Force in January of 1966 and served his country as a Morse Code Interceptor for the U.S.A.F. Security Service until June of 1970. Mr. Franson was stationed at Lackland A.F.B., San Antonio, Texas for Basic Training, then proceeded to Keesler A.F.B., Mississippi for specialty training, was stationed in Shemya, Alaska, the last island on the Aleutian chain, before being stationed at U.S.A.F. Security Service Cryptologic Depot at Kelly A.F.B. where he met his spouse, Patricia Lorene Zweig-Franson, of San Antonio, whom he married on April 13, 1968. Patricia is the eldest daughter of U.S.A.F. Colonel Louis Emil Zweig, Jr., and Lorene Vannie Coleman Zweig.

Glenn was last stationed at Karamursel A.F.B., Turkey and lived in Yalova, Turkey with his wife and newborn daughter, Shane, born in the capital city of Ankara, Turkey. He returned to San Antonio, Texas to pursue a civilian career after military service.

Mr. Franson played football, baseball, and basketball for Pittsville High School, was in the Drama Club and served student government.

Beginning in 1970 Mr. Franson was employed or owned businesses in the Dallas Metropolitan Area and San Antonio, Texas, including Handy Andy Food Services as Manager of Brittany Buffets, opened and operated the new Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas, operated ten First Mate Seafood Restaurants, managed Advanced Business Communications, performed as sales manager at Nordhaus Foods, and Sysco Foods.

While employed in the food service industry, he owned and operated several other business concerns, was insurance, mutual fund and securities licensed, owned Texas Brands Marketing specializing in distribution of food products manufactured in Texas, was a successful Shaklee distribution operator with 1,700 distributors in Texas and Louisiana, owned a retail and wholesale operation, The Ultimate Cheesecake Factory locations in The Colonnade and Park Oak, as well as owned a dessert shop called Scrumptious Desserts in Alamo Heights.

Mr. Franson was a Boy Scout as a child and served as a leader while serving in the military, coached children's YMCA soccer, participated in a San Antonio Adult Fun Soccer League, competitively sponsored his sons and daughter in racing slot cars, go karts, dirt bikes and trials bikes for relaxation. He was extremely competitive and swam laps in the family pool, and enjoyed his sailboats, fishing boats, canoes, and travel trailers. His favorite hobby was fly fishing, tying flies with his grandaughters and hunting for vintage bamboo rods in our beautiful Texas Hill Country antique stores with his wife escorting him until he could no longer navigate. He could be found on the Medina, Frio, Guadalupe and Llano Rivers and sailed Canyon Lake in the "Norwegian Princess" named for his daughter, Shane. The love of fishing was instilled in him on the Yellow River behind his parent's general store in Pittsville, Wisconsin.

He was a fifth generation German-Norwegian immigrant and a fifth generation entrepreneur descending from Scandinavian American farmers, general store owners, morticians and food service business owners, a Christian who believed in doing business on a handshake.

Mr. Franson loved the Texas Hill Country and enjoyed many weekends in Luckenbach and Medina City, Texas and listening to his favorite Country and Western artists, including Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Don William, and Pat Green. He loved history and stopped at every single roadside historical marker on any long-distance trip and could recite many historical facts. Glenn Franson played accordion and piano and even received a lesson or two from Myron Floren who appeared regularly on the Lawrence Welk Show and was known as "The Happy Norwegian."

Glenn never forgot a face, loved his customers in the food services business, and was very gregarious and energetic. He was an extremely hard worker and won many awards in his industry but always "kept it simple," driving old cars and never caring about material trappings. He was known as being extremely honest and very fair at all times and was a passionate salesperson and a manager who refused to let his team come in at second place.

Glenn would consider his greatest accomplishment his children's values, work ethic and diligence evidenced by the success they have realized and the qualities they feel their father instilled in each of them.

Glenn attended and was married in West Avenue Church of Christ and later attended Oak Hills Church, in San Antonio, Texas, until he was unable to attend due to the advanced stages of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease which shortened his energetic life considerably.

The family would like to mention the incredible love, dedication, and care Ms. Margarita (Maggie) Carranza gave to Glenn and family for four generations and to him directly, for many, many years to ensure that Mr. Franson could remain in his home with his family as long as possible. Duncan and Lailey Sztapanik were instrumental in assuring Glenn was able to be cared for at the highest level at Westover Hills Care, near his homesite, for the last few years which allowed him to be near his wife at home.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Lorene Zweig-Franson, daughter, Shane Lorene Franson-Evans, two sons, Glenn Martin Franson, Jr. and Graham Bret Franson, granddaughters Kayci Taylor Evans, Wesli Layne Evans, Braydi Grayson Evans (daughters of Shane and Wayne Evans), all of San Antonio, his sister, Donna Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, his brother, Daniel Franson of Pittsville and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin,

his nephew, John Trickle and niece, Jennifer Trickle Hayes of Wisconsin.

There is no pre-service public visitation but public chapel services will be on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 8:15 a.m. at Porter Loring Funeral Home at 1101 McCullough, San Antonio, Texas 78212. www.PorterLoring.com (web link)

Military services and honors at Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery from 9:45-10:15 a.m. and will be lead by an escorted vehicle procession after the chapel services to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery beginning at 9:15 a.m. and arriving at the cemetery at 9:45 a.m.

In Lieu of flowers, the children prefer a memorial contribution be made to honor their mother who is co-founder and Chairman of Massage Heights Family Fund, a crisis relief fund for the those who may be experiencing an immediate threat to their welfare, health of safety, 13750 U.S. Hwy 281 North, Suite 230, San Antonio, Texas 78232, or American Cancer Society, or Alamo Area Parkinson's Disease Support Group.