Cover photo for Donald Franciscus's Obituary
Donald Franciscus Profile Photo

Donald Franciscus

July 18, 1941 — June 11, 2021

Don Franciscus Des Moines Don Franciscus, 79, died peacefully June 11th at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16th at St. Pius X Catholic Church with burial to follow at Glendale Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15th at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Road. Don, son of LaVerne and Dorothy (Sperry) Franciscus, was born July 18, 1941 in Mankato, Minnesota. He was married to Kathi Lewinsky on April 12th, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois. They were blessed with 52 years of marriage and a loving family. In a military family, Don attended several schools before graduating from Richfield High School in 1959. Soon after, his family was deployed to Tokyo, Japan where Don attended Sophia University. Don joined the Minnesota National Guard in 1964. Don spent the majority of his career in the grocery industry, culminating in Franciscus Super Valu of Little Falls, MN. He finished his career as a commercial agent for Federated Insurance until he retired to live on a lake in Northern Minnesota. He and Kathi moved to Des Moines in 2017. An avid fisherman, Don was proud of catching his largest fish on Lake Sakkakawea. Ever at home on a Minnesota lake, Don taught his children and grandchildren how to drive a boat, how to waterski, and how to fish. He enjoyed hunting, flying model airplanes and Minnesota Vikings games. His interests included cars, motorcycles, boats and other outdoor activities. Don is survived by his wife, Kathi; son Mark (Zoe), daughter Jill Tigges; granddaughters, Ellie, Sophia, Claudia, Zoey, Ada; brother, Jerry; sisters Barb Bouljon and Cheryl Paulson (Cornie). Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

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Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory

8201 Hickman Road
Urbandale, IA 50322

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Mass of Christian Burial

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Starts at 10:30 am (Central time)

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St. Pius X Catholic Church

3663 66th St
Urbandale, IA 50322

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