Dorothy Mae Francl

Dorothy Mae Francl, 101, of St. Paul, passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island.

Private Family Graveside Services will be held at the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. More details will follow.

Dorothy Francl, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to all who knew her, passed away at the Tiffany Square Nursing Home in Grand Island on May 14th, at the age of 101.

Dorothy was born on November 5, 1923, to Charles and Minnie (Klein) Glines. She grew up and walked to school in the Wolbach area. This was during the height of the depression. Her father was a farmer, and she recalled moving six times to different rental farms. The moves were made with horses, wagons, and hayracks.

She enjoyed elementary school, following her older brother, Harold, to school when she was just 4. Since she was there, the teacher decided to give her a desk, making her one of the very first preschoolers. Although she loved school, education was not a priority in those times, so she never got to go to high school. Later in life, she was proud to get her GED.

She became a seamstress sewing for various WWII government programs. Then in 1941, she met her future husband, Ed, at a local dance. They were married January 12, 1942, when she began her role as a farmer’s wife. In addition to her farm activities, Ed and Dorothy had four children: Terry, Bob, Susan, and Tod. At one point, she became the local Avon lady, traveling throughout Howard and Merrick counties.

Dorothy and Ed enjoyed dancing through all their married years. They also bowled, went fishing, played cards with neighbors and friends, and liked to travel. Notable trips included the Rose Bowl in California and a driving odyssey all the way to Alaska.

Dorothy and Ed farmed mainly in the Gage Valley area for over 40 years before moving to St. Paul in 1982. Ed passed in 2005 while Dorothy continued living in her St. Paul home until 2015, when she then moved to Matelyn Assisted Living in St. Paul, where she resided until two weeks prior to her passing.

Those who live on to cherish her memory include her daughter; three sons and their spouses; as well as eight grandchildren; and twenty-three great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sibling, Harold Glines and his wife, Joy, and their son, Ted; and son-in-law, Dennis Lukasiewicz.

Dorothy will always be remembered for her warm smile, good humor, pleasant demeanor, and love of family. She will be greatly missed.

There will be a Family Graveside Remembrance Ceremony held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting Dorothy’s family.