Franklin Carl Hutchens

MASON CITY - Franklin Carl Hutchens, 72 of Mason City died Sunday, November 21, 2004 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services for Franklin will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, November 26, 2004 at the First Christian Church, 318 North Adams Avenue with the Rev. Bill Kanne, Rev. Margaret Hutchens & Rev. MarvaJean Hutchens officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 PM, Friday, November 26, 2004 in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens, Marshalltown. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM ? 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 25, 2004, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 North Pennsylvania Avenue. Memorials may be directed to the Franklin Carl Hutchens Memorial Fund. Military Rites will be conducted at the church by the Mason City Veteran?s Memorial Association. Franklin Carl Hutchens was born on November 30, 1931 the son of Carl B. and Abbie A.M. (Nehring) Hutchens. Franklin attended and graduated from Providence Consolidated High School in New Providence, Iowa. He then attended the University of Northern Iowa where he received a Bachelors Degree. He attended the University of Northern Colorado where he received two Master?s Degrees, one in Educational Administration and the other in Business Education. On June 8, 1954 Franklin began serving his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on May 23, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois. Franklin was united in marriage to Donna P. Freel on June 24, 1956 in Des Moines, Iowa. Following their marriage they moved to Ellsworth, Iowa where he was a business teacher and junior high coach. They then moved to Albion, Iowa in 1957 where Franklin taught business for four years and served as High School Principal for one year. Franklin and Donna then moved to Farmington, Iowa in 1962 where he served as a High School Principal and in 1964 they moved to Boone, Iowa where Franklin was also a High School Principal. In 1967 Franklin and Donna came to Mason City. Franklin became an instructor at North Iowa Area Community College where he taught Business and Education courses, and in 1999 Franklin retired from N.I.A.C.C. following 32 years of service. Franklin was a member of the First Christian Church in Mason City and was a 31 year member of the River City Chorus. He also held a membership in Phi Delta Kappa and was the founder of the local chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. He was a member of I.S.E.A and a lifetime member of the N.E.A. Franklin served on the original Board of Directors for the OK House, and was a member of the Senior Citizen?s Board and was also active in Community Theatre productions. Franklin loved teaching and made a life-long career out of it, he also had passions for traveling, photography and ceramics. Franklin is survived by his wife, Donna P. Hutchens of Mason City; two daughters, Margaret M. Hutchens of Mason City and Dr. Marilyn R. Wulfekuhler and husband Dr. Louis ?Ted? Wulfekuhler of Lansing, Michigan; one son, Carl D. Hutchens of Mason City; three grandchildren, Daniel, Erika and Steven Wulfekuhler and one sister, M. Marie Hale and husband Thomas of Downey, California; sister-in-law, Beulah Rose of St. Cloud, Minnesota; nieces and nephews, Tom, Dan, Carl, Don, AnnMarie, Marvin, Marlin, Marlowe, MarvaJean and their families and many great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl B. and Abbie A.M. Hutchens, his step-father, Eugene Eagan, and one brother, Warren H. Hutchens.

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on November 25, 2004 (map/driving directions) 3:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on November 22, 2004 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:00 AM at First Christian Church on November 26, 2004 (map/driving directions)