Franklin E. Court

Franklin E. Court

November 26, 1939 - June 24, 2023

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Obituary

MONONA - Dr. Franklin E. “Frank” Court, emeritus professor of English from Northern Illinois University, went off into the great beyond on June 24, 2023, surrounded by his family and with the help of the caring staff at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg.


Frank was born on Nov. 26, 1939, the son of Franklin A. and Dorothy R. Court.  He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, served in the U. S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve, went to college, earned a Ph.D., and spent the next 35 years as a professor of English. His professional degrees were from Youngstown State University, the University of Maryland and Kent State University. He is the author of well over a score of articles in both academic journals and trade magazines.  


He is also the author of five books, including a 2012 history of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, where he worked as a volunteer since 2004. In recent years he has been a devoted member of the Sunday Assembly of Holy Wisdom Monastery (Middleton).  He particularly enjoyed helping out in the kitchen with fellow volunteers. He was especially moved by Sunday Assembly and its wonderful choir and insightful homilies.


Frank leaves his beloved wife and partner, Abbie Loomis; a son, Colin; a daughter, Jenifer Warren; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Patty Higgins.   


A memorial service for Frank will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Hwy M, Middleton, WI. Visitation with family and friends at 10:00 a.m., liturgy at 11:00 a.m. with light refreshments immediately following.


Memorial donations may be made to the University of Wisconsin - Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, WI 53711 or to Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI 53562.


Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com <http://www.gundersonfh.com>.


Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420


Events

20
Visitation
Wed Sep 20, 2023 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Holy Wisdom Monastery • 4200 County Rd M, Middleton, WI 53562
Get Directions
20
Memorial Service
Wed Sep 20, 2023 @ 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM CDT
Holy Wisdom Monastery • 4200 County Rd M, Middleton, WI 53562
Get Directions

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Franklin
KM
Kathy Miner
Other •
To Frank's family, I am one of the Arboretum's naturalists and Frank was a special friend. We shared a love of history, exploration, and quirky stories. Everyone here will miss his knowledge, and how he loved chatting with visitors about what a special place the Arboretum is -- and we ALL made use of his wonderful book. I know I speak for many when I say how we will miss him. Deepest sympathy to you.
SC
Sara Christopherson
Other •
As an Arb naturalist, I always looked forward to seeing Frank as I arrived and departed from the visitor center. He shared stories, chuckles, and musings...always a highlight of my weekends there. With condolances. I will miss him.
BA
BobbieJoy Amann
Other •
To Abbie, Colin and Jennifer and your families, my thoughts and prayers go out to all of you on the passing of your husband and father, Frank. He will be missed by many and left a wonderful legacy in his family and his career and passion.
JK
Jan Klawitter
Other •
Dr. Court was one of my favorite English professors at NIU and I took several classes with him. He also served as my senior honors thesis adviser. He was a tremendous educator who shared his love of literature and language with wit and without taking himself too seriously - even if we disagreed on whether Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights was the better book. My thought and prayers are with his family.
JC
John Carlberg
Other •
Frank was my favorite professor all through graduate school. He was engaging, challenging, extremely knowledgeable, encouraging, and at times, daunting. He was also my dissertation director, and he stuck with me through countless delays and difficulties. We stayed in touch through the years, though sporadically for the last few. I had a decades-long rewarding teaching career, thanks in no small part to Frank.
MT
Meredith Tarczynski
Other •
Right now, I'm teaching _Into the Wild_ by Jon Krakauer to my high school American Lit class, and while I was not on the NIU Extreme Lit trip in 2000 when he guided, I did participate the year before where I learned much about ITW and other nature writers. I've been telling stories about my professors and their experiences in the wild, and I remember quite vividly Prof. Court's tales; I was always captivated by his manner of speaking--direct, but also beautifully descriptive--and thoroughly enjoyed having him as a professor, especially when I completed my writing on _Dracula_. I still have and use a text that he just gave me out of the blue. I am sorry for your loss of a fantastic educator and a truly brilliant man. I know his spirit is still learning.

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