Archie Pete Franz

Funeral services for Archie Pete Franz, 88, of Corn, are scheduled for 2 p.m. today in the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church, officiated by Rev. Tim Sandy.
Franz died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Corn Heritage Village at Corn. He was born Feb. 17, 1925, in Medora, Kan., the son of Henry P. Franz and Lizzie (Remple) Franz.
Franz started his young life in Kansas and at about the age of two his family moved to Corn in a covered wagon. The trip took approximately two weeks.
He started his schooling at the Pleasant View School. When he was to attend the eighth grade, the family moved to Colony, where he attended the Pioneer School for an about a half year and then transferred to Corn Public Schools.
While attending high school, he was active in basketball and achieved high honors, graduating in 1943.
Franz married his high school sweetheart, Genevieve Sallaska, on May 3, 1946. They made their home in Corn, where he became a farmer/rancher and in his younger years refe-reed basketball games.
His first wife preceded him in death in 1974, and he married Joan Schmidt on May 23, 1974. They continued to live in Corn, where he continued to farm and ranch. He was able to farm until his retirement in 2004 at age 84.
Franz had been a faithful and active member of several church congregations, some of which he helped get organized and started. Most recently, he was a member of the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church, where he had served in many capacities.
Also preceding him in death were his parents; a granddaughter, Kandice Kliewer; a sister, Esther Heinrichs; and three brothers, Milton Franz, Albert Franz and Homer Franz.
Survivors include his wife, Joan, of the home; daughters, Rita Williams and her husband, Randy, of Liberal, Kan., and Lori Kliewer and her husband, John, of Weatherford; sons, Tim Franz and his wife, Susie, and Phil Schmidt and his wife, Danielle, all of Weatherford, Richard Schmidt and his wife, Jeannie, of Lincoln Neb., and Russell Schmidt and his wife, Da, of Chinghai, Thailand; 22 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
Burial will follow in the Corn Cemetery, under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home, in Clinton.