Memorial
Lillian Mae Peterson Frantz, 94, of Austin Texas, formally of Palo, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, March 25, with family at her side. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 2, from 5:00-6:30 PM at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Lillian was born on September 2, 1930, at her home in Alburnett, Iowa, to Clarence and Selma Peterson. She started first grade at Alburnett schools when she was four and graduated at sixteen from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids. She attended Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls for a year and a half. She began teaching third and fourth grade at Palo Consolidated Schools at 17 before she completed her two-year certificate. She taught Palo for 10 years. She continued her schooling at Coe College where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1969, the same year her daughter, Cheryl, graduated from Jefferson High School. She furthered her education in 1981, attending the University of Northern Iowa, with her daughter, Karen. She received a Master of Arts degree in 1983. Lillian taught kindergarten in Cedar Rapids at Truman, Jackson and retired from Wright Elementary in 1992 after 31 years.
Lillian married Floyd Frantz on March 4, 1951. They enjoyed sixty-three years of marriage before Floyd passed away July 27, 2014. They had four children, Cheryl, Karen, Larry, and Connie. After retiring, they traveled to Switzerland several times. They enjoyed motorhome travels and camping in various states. They spent the winter months in Naples and Florida Keys, where she met many wonderful friends.
Lillian was a loving, kind, caring, and giving woman who always did special things for her family. She gave great hugs and was very patient and nurturing. She enjoyed working in her flower beds and took pride in her roses, irises, and gladiolus. Lillian was beautiful inside and out. She will be greatly missed.
Surviving her are her children, Karen (Dennis) Vote of Austin, Texas, Larry (Donna) Frantz of Cedar Rapids, and Connie (Jim) Hoffmann of Anamosa, Iowa; sister-in-law, Yvonne Burkhart of Vinton, Iowa; eleven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd, her daughter, Cheryl Beenken, her brother Merle, and her parents Clarence and Selma Peterson.