Frank Hermsen

Frank Hermsen, 80, of Dubuque, formerly of Carroll, IA died on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 5:00 pm on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory where there will be a prayer service at 5:00 pm followed by a time of sharing.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Frank will be at 10:30 am on Friday, June 27, 2025, at Church of the Resurrection with Father Phil Gibbs as the Celebrant. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Dubuque.
Frank was born July 25, 1944, in Hobbs, NM, the son of Ernest "Butch" and Alma (Hannasch) Hermsen. On June 4, 1966, he married Cleone L. Schon at St. Joseph Church in Dedham, Iowa.
Frank attended Kuemper High School in Carroll, IA where he graduated in 1962. He then attended Iowa State University, where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree and later went on to obtain his Master's Degree in Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1972.
Frank worked as a teacher, coach, and counselor in the Kuemper Elementary and Junior High Schools in Carroll and Breda. He then became the Executive Director for a Non-Profit Disability Support Services for New Hope Village, Carroll, IA, for 35 years, retiring in 2011.
Frank was a member of Church of the Resurrection and formerly a long-time member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll, IA. While at Holy Spirit, he served faithfully as a Lector and lay minister of Communion including bringing the sacrament to the homebound. He was an active member of the Carroll Council Knights of Columbus, where he was an Honorary Life Member of both the 3rd and 4th Degrees, and held leadership roles as Grand Knight and District Deputy. Frank was also a former member of the Carroll Rotary Club.
Generous with his time and talents, Frank was deeply committed to serving his community. He coached girls' Little League Softball for 17 years, served as Board President for Holy Spirit School, President of the Kuemper Catholic High School Parents Club and he was a Speak Up Leader through RSVP. Frank was passionate about empowering individuals living with disabilities. He was a member of the Iowa Association of Community Providers (IACP), the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), and was a Past Chairperson for the State of Iowa Mental Health/Mental Retardation Commission from 1990-1999. His service extended to various local and state boards and committees, including most recently the Iowa Hospital Licensing Board.
In recognition of his many contributions, Frank was honored with the "Citizen of the Year" award in 2006 for outstanding community service, as well as the Iowa Association of Community Providers "Leadership Award" that same year. Outside of his volunteer work and leadership roles, Frank enjoyed reading, golfing, taking walks, and playing board and card games. He was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan. However, his greatest joy came from spending time with his family, who meant the world to him.
Survivors include his wife, Cleone of Dubuque, three daughters, Lisa (Richard Newman) Hermsen of Rochester, NY, Tricia (Paul) Windschitl of Iowa City, IA, and Mary (Robert) Ridgeway of Dubuque; three grandchildren, Calvin Windschitl, Elke Windschitl, and Kyle Ridgeway; two sisters, Bettie (Steve) Bolar of Marshalltown, IA and Donita (Kristy Lynch) Hermsen of Coralville, IA; siblings-in-law, Joleen (Roger) Conrad of Manilla, IA, Lorraine Pettit of Decorah, IA, and Michael Flanagan of Council Bluffs, IA; and two nephews, Zach Bolar and Luke Bolar.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Joe and Dorothy Schon, and brother-in-law, Duane Schon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to New Hope Village-Frank H. Hermsen Staff Development Fund at https://newhopevillage.org/one-time-donation/ or by check to New Hope Foundation Frank H. Hermsen Staff Development Fund at New Hope Attn. Development Department, PO Box 887 Carroll, IA 51401-0887.