Richard M. "Dick" Franz

1915 - 2017

Franz, Richard M. "Dick" July 10, 1915 - February 12, 2017 "I still think the challenge to each of us is to become kind and compassionate to those around us." Richard M. Franz, "Dick" died on February 12, 2017 at the age of 101, well on his way to 102. Dick was an ordinary man who, despite great personal loss, through force of his will, an incredible intelligence and a generous spirit, lived an extraordinary life that continues to positively impact the lives of others. Our beautiful planet, so deeply revered by Dick, feels like a smaller, colder place already. However, his losses didn't deter him--Dick Franz modeled persistence. We must persist. Richard M. Franz was born in Milwaukee to Ella and Richard Franz on July 10, 1915. He graduated from North Division High School, and later from Milwaukee State Teachers College majoring in Art and English. Dick was a proud veteran of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Army Corps Mapping Unit during World War II. At age 100, he boarded an Honor Flight to the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. He married Maxine Hipkoe in 1944 and had two children, Erich and Emily. All three preceded him in death, as well as his parents and his only sibling, Edwin. His daughter-in-law, Nola Franz, of Everett, Washington, survives him. Dick's interests were wide-ranging, his involvements deep, his engagements with the community and fellow earth travelers were amazingly diverse and overwhelmingly positive. He lived his principles through advocacy, action and financial support. Dick and Maxine helped start the New Berlin Ecology Association that was an early promoter of household recycling in Waukesha County. In 1978, he co-founded the Waukesha County Environmental Action League (WEAL) a grassroots organization dedicated to the protection of Waukesha County's natural resources that is still going strong at nearly 40 years of age. After their daughter Emily died in a tragic car accident in her early 20s, Dick and Maxine started three local chapters of the Compassionate Friends to help bereaved parents cope with the loss of a child. They also established the Emily Franz Scholarship Foundation to grant scholarships to graduating seniors of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where Emily taught fourth grade. Since 1980, the Emily Franz fund provided scholarships to 327 Shullsburg students totaling $863,000. Through frugal living and careful investing, Dick was able to generously support many causes and organizations about which he was passionate: American Friends Service Committee Environmental Defense Fund Greater Milwaukee Foundation Peace Learning Center Planned Parenthood Plowshares SHARP Literacy Urban Ecology Center Waukesha County Land Conservancy Waukesha County Environmental Action League Waukesha Public Library Women's Center of Waukesha Dick was an avid reader of non-fiction, typically reading several books at once. He shared his love of books with friends and was ready to engage in energetic discussions about the books' subjects and other timely topics. He wrote frequent "Letters to the Editor" published in both the Waukesha Freeman and the Milwaukee Journal advocating for innovative ideas to create a better community and world. Throughout his life, Dick opposed war, nuclear testing, and the House Un-American Activities Committee. He marched for peace, for civil and women's rights, for social justice. Dick and wife Maxine were active in the United Nations Association, Waukesha Chapter. They were awarded the YWCA's Peacemaker Award in 1997. In 2015, Dick was honored with Plowshare Center's Peacebuilder award for his lifelong commitment to social justice, peace and environmental sustainability. An avid bicyclist, Dick regularly biked 60 - 80 miles several times a week in retirement, riding from New Berlin to Retzer Nature Center and the Milwaukee Art Museum. For his 100th birthday, he canoed the Milwaukee River and received this tribute: Sharp as ever and still living life to the fullest, every day. Environmentalist. Conservationist. Artist. Reader. Leader. Inspirationist. Although he outlived nearly his entire family, he was greatly loved and will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched in the most profound ways. Donations in Dick's memory can be made to the Waukesha County Land Conservancy, Waukesha County Environmental Action League, or Planned Parenthood. A brief service will be held for his family of friends on April 29 at 12 PM at Blessed Savior Lutheran Church, 15250 W. Cleveland Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin. A lunch will follow.