Beatrice "Bea" Frana

Beatrice (Bea) Frana, age 98, of Calmar, Iowa died Sunday, November 30, 2014 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. Memorial Mass will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church at 304 S. Maryville St. Calmar, Iowa with Rev Donald Hawes presiding , burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at the Schluter Balik Funeral Home French Chapel at 202 South Washington St. in Calmar, Iowa and also at the church after 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. There will be a rosary at 4:00 and scripture service at 7:00 on Tuesday. Beatrice “Bea” Lillian (Pechota) Frana was born on June 27, 1916, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Landa) Pechota, near Protivin, IA. Bea attended rural country school and Rudolphinum Catholic School in Protivin. While in school, she played girls’ basketball. After her schooling, she worked as a housekeeper for an area farmer. She was united in marriage to Edward A. Frana on October 4, 1937, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin, and to this union, two sons were born, Wayne and Keith. Together Bea and Eddie farmed for a short time before moving to Calmar in 1945, where Ed was involved in the Frana Beer Distributing Co. Bea was a stay at home mother, and enjoyed gardening, canning, quilting, crocheting, needle work, baking, entertaining, dancing, and traveling. Above all, her greatest joy was her family and her love for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bea was an active member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and Rosary Society. She also was a member of the South Winn Country Club and involved in Calmar community activities. Bea is survived by two sons: Wayne (Linda) Frana, Burnsville, MN and Keith (Patty) Frana, Calmar, Iowa. Four grandchildren: Tara Weisbrod, DeForest, WI; Trevor (Heidi) Frana, Farmington, MN; Jeremy Frana, Eden Prairie, MN and BreAnne (Matt) Solem, Des Moines, IA. Six great grandchildren: Taylinn & Reece Frana, Max Weisbrod, Maura Frana, and Kale & Brynn Solem, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Bea was preceded in death by her parents: Frank and Anna (Landa) Pechota. Her husband: Edward Frana on April 12, 2005. Siblings: Celia (Joe) Pizinger, Philomenia (Bill) Svestka, Bill (Alice) Pechota, Margaret (Ludgar Phillips) (Cletus Busch) Phillips Busch, Mabel (Elvin) Kubesh and Viola (Eldon) Mason. Father-in-law and mother-in-law: Frank and Barbara (Kalec) Frana. One sister-in-law: Dorothy (Rudy) Wenthold. One brother-in-law: Lawrence (Harriett) Frana, and several nieces and nephews.