Peter Dean Franke

Peter Franke, 69, beloved husband of Nancy (Irving) Franke for 46 years, passed away unexpectedly while on a vacation with his family in Fort Myers Beach, FL. Born in Montclair, NJ, he was the son of the late Robert and Suzanne (Dean) Franke.

After serving in the US Navy, Peter spent 45 years in customer service, including two decades with Kodak and time in the US Army Reserves. He loved working with his hands and always had a project going. Some of his happiest moments were simple ones. He liked watching the sunrise by the water, trading sarcastic jokes with anyone who could keep up, and folding laundry on Sundays with football on in the background. In their semi-retired years, he and his wife Nancy enjoyed taking weekend trips and exploring new places together. Above all, he cherished time with his grandchildren, who adored him.

In addition to Nancy, he is survived by their children, Lindsay Balazsi and her husband James of Fairfield, and their daughter Penelope, and Emerson Franke and his wife Mallory of Howell, NJ and their children, Landon and Noah, as well as his sister Elizabeth (Franke) Hague and her husband Jeff; their sons, William (Katie) Hague and Thomas (Sarah) Hague, niece Marissa Matarazzo Generoso and her husband Carl Generoso, his nephew Clint Matarazzo and their families.

His family will receive friends on Sunday, December 7, from 10AM to 1PM at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk. Other services will be held privately. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association (Heart.org)