FRANCIS JOHN MOTTET

FRANCIS JOHN MOTTET

Richland

Francis John Mottet, 92, of Richland, died at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield where he had been a resident. A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield with Rev. Stephn C. Page officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield. Memorials to Polishville Association or the St. Mary New Catholic Church Building Fund may be left at the church or mailed to the family at 1166 Nutmeg Avenue, Richland, IA 52585. Arrangements are in the care of Gould Funeral Home in Richland.

He was born May 31, 1917 in Riverside, Ia, the son of Laurence Xavier and Mary Winifred Streb Mottet. Francis graduated from West Chester, IA consolidated school. He served in the U.S. Army during the World War II. Francis married Mary Teresa Chuck in East Pleasant Plain, IA on January 24, 1948.

Francis was a farmer all of his life, except while serving in the U.S. Army . He lived and farmed in the Richland area for the past 63 years, retiring in 1991. Francis was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield, served on the Diocesan Lay Council for 12 years including a term as Vice President. He was active in the National Farmers Organization, serving as President of the Jefferson County unit and as Vice President of the First Congressional District unit. Francis was also a member of the American Legion. he enjoyed traveling through out the United States and overseas. Following his retirement, he became a volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in Iowa City for seven years and took up golfing.

Francis is survived by his wife Teresa of rural Richland, two daughters: Joann Shepard and her husband Richard of Indianola, IA and Jean Briggs and her husband Terry of Rochester, MN. Two sons: Ray Mottet and his wife Peggy of Fairfield and Ken Mottet and his wife Mary of Berwyn, IL; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; one brother, Duane Joseph Mottet of Brighton and two sisters: Catherine Godwin of Cedar Rapids and Dolores Brown of Mt. Pleasant. Francis was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: Helen McDowell and Jeneta Weltha and two brothers: Bernard and Richard Mottet.