Franz X. Stossel

Franz X. Stossel, 94, of Rogue River, died Sunday, June 6, 2010, at Royale Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday at Chapel of the Valley - L.B. Hall Funeral Home, with Deacon Bob Chapin officiating. Committal will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the River Catholic Church, POB 1596, Rogue River, OR 97537. Franz was born December 30, 1915 in Morschach, Switzerland. He worked as a machinist in a Swiss munitions factory. On October 25, 1941, he married Balbina Herger, who died February 10, 1975. In 1953 they moved to Winnipeg, Canada, where he worked for ALCOA. In 1963, they moved to Campbell, California. There he worked for fourteen years as a maintenance mechanic for Owens Corning in Santa Clara. On March 15, 1980 in Campbell, he married Margaret U. Vanier, who survives him. They moved to Rogue River the same year. Franz was a member of Our Lady of the River Catholic Church in Rogue River. He enjoyed fine woodworking and was a master craftsman. He loved traveling throughout the world and recorded his travels with photographs and videos. He also enjoyed gardening. In addition to his wife, Margaret, survivors include one daughter, Hedi Oberloher of Eldorado Hills, Calif.; two step-daughters, Patricia Gran of Rogue River and Vivianne Swanson of Richland, Wash.; three step-sons, Norman, Robert and Urbain Vanier, all of Ontario, Canada; one brother, Charlie Stossel of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; 21 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. A daughter, Kathy Denardi, preceded him in death.