Frank D. Koon

Frank D. Koon was born May 25, 1923, in Rexburg to Morace and Maude Koon. He was the third of five sons. An older sister, Delia, died as an infant. Frank's early life was filled with work on the farm and fun with his brothers and neighbors. During his life, he saw farming progress from horse-drawn farm implements to the first steam engines to modern tractors and machinery he would have never imagined in his youth.

Frank attended grade school in a little one-room schoolhouse a few miles from his home. Frank's graduating class of nine included a neighbor, Ada Alice Young. Frank and Ada completed the eighth grade together, and then Frank continued on and attended high school, first in Rexburg and then in Rigby, graduating in 1941.

On September 29, 1942, lifelong friends Frank and Ada were married. Soon after, in August of 1944, Frank was drafted into the Army. After his basic training, Frank was transferred to California, where he awaited his first assignment. Ada accompanied him to California and stayed there with him until he left for the Pacific theater. While there, she worked at a local laundry and lived with its owners, since she could not stay on base with him. Frank was soon deployed to the Pacific theater, where he spent his tour of duty as part of a supply company in Hawaii. Ada returned to Idaho to await his return.

Frank was discharged from the army in September of 1946 and returned to Idaho and to his wife.

On May 18, 1957, Craig Daniel Koon was born to Frank and Ada. He was their only child, and very beloved. He was raised on the farm and taught the values of honesty and hard work and spent many hours helping his father, mother and grandfather with the farm and chores.

Frank worked hard to provide for his family. In addition to running his farm and doing most of the work on his house, he and Ada worked at the potato sorting warehouse owned by his cousin, Phil Anderson, until Craig was born. After Craig's birth, Ada stayed home to care for their child, home and yard.

Frank pursued a number of other jobs, including many years at Idaho Fresh Pack in Lewisville, where he worked at nearly every job in the plant and eventually became shift foreman, and Ricks College in Rexburg, where he was supervisory custodian in the Austin Industrial Science building.

On April 4, 1999, Ada passed away after fighting diabetes for about four years. For those four years, Frank remained by her side, caring for her mostly himself, accepting very little assistance from others. After Ada's death, Frank continued living in his house for about another decade. Then, after a serious health incident in June 2010, Frank moved to the Homestead Assisted Living Center in Rigby, where he lived for the last two years of his life.

On the evening of July 13, 2012, Frank passed away in his room at Homestead, attended by EMS personnel and members of the staff of Homestead.

Frank is survived by his son, Craig; his brother, Jack; his sister-in-law, Carol; and 17 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Delia; brothers, Vance, Bob and Bill; and his wife, Ada.

He was beloved in the community, and his presence will be greatly missed.

Funeral services for Frank will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 20, at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg. A viewing will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 19, and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Friday prior to services. Following the service Friday, a brief graveside service and dedication will be performed at the family plot in Sutton Cemetery. Following services, a meal will be served at the Burton LDS Church. All are invited to attend.

Condolences may be sent to www.flammfh.com.

Family Tribute