Eugene Nelson Francis

Eugene Nelson Francis, 90, passed away Friday, July 2, 2010. Gene was born September 2, 1919, in St. John, Kansas, the son of Arthur and Martha (Spaete) Francis. Gene graduated from St. John High School and after graduating he worked on the family farm. In 1942 he enlisted in the US Army. He served in the Army from 1942 until 1946 and received a meritorious award for outstanding service in the South Pacific theater. He married Virginia Sue Freedlund on January 14, 1946, in Bloomington, IL. They moved to Manhattan, where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry from Kansas State University in 1949. He moved to Ames, Iowa, and worked as an extension specialist in the Animal Husbandry Department for Iowa State University. He received his M.S. degree from Iowa State University in 1953 in Nutrition & Economics. From 1955 to 1967 he worked for the St. Joseph Livestock Market and then from 1967 to 1985, the Kansas State Extension Service in Garden City and Manhattan, KS. Upon retiring, he continued to do consulting work in the livestock industry as well as handy man jobs. During his years in the livestock industry he judged numerous county fairs as well as served as Superintendent of the Sheep Show at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago. He also was an official judge of the collegiate livestock judging contest at the American Royal in Kansas City. Survivors include his wife of sixty four years, Virginia Sue; sons, Eugene N. Francis, Jr., Kent (Judy) L. Francis; daughter, Karen (Juan) S. Sexton; brother, James (Sue) Francis; grandchildren include Joshua (Angela) DeVader, Jessica DeVader, Scott (Wendy) Sexton, James (Brook) Sexton, Ian Sexton; twelve great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lloyd Francis, Maurice Francis; and sister, Dorothy McAndrew. Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Wesley Hall at Aldersgate Village, 7220 SW Asbury Dr., Topeka KS 66614. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Aldersgate Village, or the Parkinsons Foundation sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd., Topeka, KS 66614. Online condolences may be made to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com. Eugene Francis