Hazel M. Francik

Hazel M. Francik, 99, of Burlington, formerly of Atkins, Iowa, Cedar Falls, and the Lake of the Ozarks, died Sunday, July 15, 2012 in her home. Hazel was born on the family farm in Plevna, MO, on February 28, 1913 to John Schuyler and Pearl Mae (Fox) Woodward. She was the third oldest of eight children. She was baptized in the Christian Church in Plevna. She graduated from Moberly High School in 1931 and Moberly Junior College in 1933. She worked several years as a cashier, then usher at the Grand Theatre in Moberly, then various dime stores and a café until she moved to Kansas City, MO, where she worked as "Rosie the Rivetter" at the American Aviation Plant building B52's. After six months, she became the first lady leadman in the plant. In January 1944, she met Florian Leehman "Frimp" Francik; they were married on April 29, 1944; he completed this part of life on September 4, 1998. From Kansas City, they moved to the Cedar Rapids, IA area, where Frimp's family was from. They lived in Atkins from 1946 until moving to Cedar Falls, IA in 1963. While in Atkins, she started the Federated Women's Club, serving as their first president. She also belonged to the Americ...[more]

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n Ladies' Auxillary, Presbyterian Women, Mariner's, and served as a Deacon at Pleasant hill Presbyterian Church in Atkins and Cedar Heights. In 1981, she and her husband retired to Camdenton, MO where they owned a home and dock on a large cove. In 1998 they moved to Burlington to be near their daughter; Hazel joined the First Presbyterian Church there where she was an active member of the Gems group and Presbyterian Women. Through the Gems group, she volunteered time at Hope Haven. In her younger years, she loved going camping and for hikes in the woods, teaching her kids the names of trees and flowers. She also enjoyed watching and identifying birds and had cats and dogs for pets over the years. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and trying out new recipes on her family; she was an excellent cook specializing in Czech pastries. She had a green thumb with both houseplants and outdoor flowers. She also was very artistic, showing and earning many blue ribbons on her oil paintings and floral arrangements. Survivors include her daughter, Coleen Francik-Young (Chet Young) of Burlington; a son, Dennis Francik (Michelle) of Cedar Falls, and four grandchildren; Marcy Brockett and Jordan, Shaun and Kari Francik; she was so proud to be a great grandmother to one year old Kaedyn Brockett; also many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters and five brothers. The memorial funeral service for Helen will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 17th at First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Deb Kinney will officiate. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. A memorial has been established for the American Cancer Society and First Presbyterian Church. According to her wishes, cremation has been accorded.