Francis LaVerne "Frank" Ward

Francis LaVerne Ward, 83, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026, from complications of Parkinson's disease. A private graveside service, followed by interment, was held on January 15 at Brethren Cemetery near Dallas Center, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Frank was born February 5, 1942, in Dallas Center, Iowa, to Maynard and Lorraine Ward. He graduated from Dallas Center High School in 1960, then served with the Iowa Army National Guard from 1960 to 1966. He held various positions in the U.S. Postal Service from 1958 to 1997, most notably as a maintenance technician and a supervisor, a career that earned him over twenty-eight years of productive retirement.

Frank's hobbies included woodworking, golf, and bicycling. His home and the homes of others are filled with the beautiful furniture he crafted in his basement woodshop. He played golf with several family members numerous times over the years. Frank completed RAGBRAI in 1979, a memory that lives on with his fellow riders. Though Parkinson's made verbal communication increasingly difficult, Frank remained active in The Mission Church in Urbandale, with email providing a lifeline to his social and faith network.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Maynard and Lorraine; brother, Fred; sisters, Carma and Karen; and sons, Bruce and Michael. He is survived by his wife, Alyce; daughter, Barbara (Michael) Duffey; son, Greg (Amy) Ward; daughter-in-law, Lori Hall; grandchildren, Abigail Crawford, Matthew Hall, Erin Smith, Dax Ward, Sam Ward, and Mars Ward; and great-grandchildren, Keira Crawford, Kip Crawford, Deacon Crawford, Beauden Hall, and Lando Hall.

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