Kermit W. Franzen
February 24, 1936 - March 17, 2020
Obituary
VERONA - Kermit Wesley Franzen, age 84, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in his sleep. He was born Feb. 24, 1936, in Huron, S.D., the son of Ruben and Ann Franzen. Kermit married Marlyn Ahn Windedahl on June 20, 1960. Kermit graduated from Carthage South Dakota High School and completed a degree in engineering at South Dakota State University in 1958. In 1960, they moved to Wisconsin and Kermit began work as a civil engineer with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. He worked for the DOT for 34 years, retiring at age 58 in 1994.
Kermit and Marlyn made their home in Madison until they moved to a home in the country outside Verona in 1975. For many years he was a member of the Verona Optimists. Kerm was an avid bowler early in life. Later, he enjoyed painting and completing jigsaw puzzles. Throughout his life he loved to fish and to play bridge.
After his kids, Kerm's gardens were his pride and joy. In addition to fruits, flowers and vegetables he loved transforming the hills and ravines on his property into various Wisconsin native ecosystems for wild flowers and native grasses. Kerm loved to travel and spend time with family and friends by Marlyn's side. They traveled the world, were snowbirds in Tucson, Ariz. and loved watching their grandchildren grow and blossom.
Kermit is survived by his son, Mark (Janice) Franzen of New Berlin, Wis.; daughter, Karyn (Carmine Morra) of Los Angeles, Calif.; grandchildren, Bryan and Sarah; and sister, Alice Bofenkamp of Sioux Falls, S.D. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marlyn in 2010.
The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff at Oakwood Village, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care, and Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg for their loving care and support of Kermit.
A memorial service will be held at OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 21, 2021. A gathering will be held at Olbrich Botanical Gardens from 12 noon until 3 p.m. on Monday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Kermit Franzen Scholarship Fund at the SDSU College of Engineering, or to Agrace HospiceCare, Fitchburg.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Rd.
(608) 442-5002
Events
Gathering
Mon Jun 21, 2021 @ 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT
Olbrich Botanical Gardens • 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 53704
Memorial Service
Mon Jun 21, 2021 @ 1:00 PM CDT
Olbrich Botanical Gardens • 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 53704
Photos
No photos of Kermit have been shared yet.
Memories
EG
Ed Goss
Other •
Kerm was a high school class mate and was 3 days older than I was. He was a great high school athletic. He will be missed by several of us who played sports with him in high school, that I have spook with since hearing of his death. Sorry to hear of his passing.
FR
Frederic Ross
Other •
Kermit was a colleague of mine for many years at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. He was kind, thoughtful, conscientious and liked by everyone. His passing leaves an empty spot for so many of us who knew, worked. with him, and appreciated him.
Our condolences go out to the family; be assured we will hold Kermit in our thoughts and prayers,
Rest in peace, old colleague and friend,
Fred Ross
EB
Eric Birschbach
Other •
Kerm and Marlyn were our neighbors when we moved onto Dahlk Circle. Kerm was already retired but seemed like he was constantly in motion tending his apple trees or planting flowers. After a few years Kerm invited us over on the first Saturday in May for their ceremonial mint julep with, of course, home grown mint. We plan to honor Kerm this May 2 by toasting him with a mint julep. Our condolences Mark and Karyn. Pam and Eric Birschbach