Frances Busness

Frances I. Busness, 89, of Waukon, IA, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 8th, at 10:30 AM at East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA, with Rev. Ronald Pederson officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the East Paint Creek Synod Cemetery fund.

Frances Irene Busness was born May 6, 1927, in Decorah, IA, the daughter of Gust and Amanda (Hanson) Budahl. She was baptized at Hauge Lutheran Church in rural Decorah and confirmed at Decorah Lutheran Church. In 1945, she graduated valedictorian of her class from Decorah High School, and on June 10, 1945, Fran married Lester Edwin Busness at East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA. For a couple of years, she was the secretary at the Waterville School; Fran also farmed with Lester in the Waterville area until they moved to Waukon, IA, in 1977.

Fran was a very active and busy volunteer. For 20 years, she was the coordinator for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). She volunteered at the senior citizen meal site in Waukon and at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, where she was still volunteering. Fran had been the secretary and treasurer for the Allamakee Cancer Society, worked with the Allamakee County Historical Society, and sang in the Allamakee County Farm Bureau chorus. She was a member of East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church and was previously the ladies aid president and also sang in the church choir.

She enjoyed gardening, canning, and growing flowers. Fran belonged to several card clubs and liked doing needlework. Recently, she really relished reading the Bible and singing hymns. She loved square dancing with Lester and loved baking, especially on the family bake days before Christmas where they made lefse and a multitude of cookies. Two years ago, Fran went on a family vacation to Montana that she called "the trip of a lifetime".

Fran is survived by her three children: Sandra Bresnahan and Cheri (Bob) Turner, both of Waukon, and Darrell (Lou Ann) Busness of La Crescent, MN; nine grandchildren: Sean (Gretchen) Bresnahan, Sheila (Dan) Halweg, Shelly (John) Lydon, Amanda Williamson, Chad Busness, Nicole (Jason) Nelson, Seth Busness, Kayla (Scott) Klingeman, and Luke Weber; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two step grandchildren: Casey Martin and Courtney (Adam) Smith; a half-sister Linda "Cameo" Kruse of Hiawatha, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lester in 1998; two sisters: Bernice Linderbaum and Helen "Hardrock" Voshell; granddaughter Kristi Busness; and son-in-law Neil Bresnahan.

Honorary casketbearers are Donna Gilbertson, Marlys Leiran, and the Golden Girls. Casketbearers are Sean Bresnahan, Chad and Seth Busness, Luke Weber, Robert and Roger Linderbaum, and Rick Larson.