Francis Cemore Long

Francis Cemore Long

October 05, 1930 - July 22, 2025

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Obituary

STOUGHTON - Francis Cemore Long, age 94, of Stoughton, passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Agrace HospiceCare. He was born on October 5, 1930, in Stoughton, the son of Francis and Mabel (Bickley) Long.


Fourth generation in his family to farm in the Town of Dunkirk. He developed a fine dairy herd when 60 cows was a big operation, and farmers were strong men with calluses on their hands.


Francis attended Bass Lake School and graduated from Stoughton High School in 1947.  He was united in marriage to Jeanne Schwass-Long on Aug. 7, 1999, in Stoughton. Francis was a long-time member of Stoughton United Methodist Church. He was very active in his community volunteering for Habitat for Humanity where he was once honored to meet President Jimmy Carter. Volunteers in Mission United Methodist Church both in Wisconsin and Biloxi, Miss., where he built homes after the destructive hurricane, and Meals-on-Wheels, where he caringly delivered and visited, “his people,” and developed many relationships. He also helped with the SUMC Food Pantry and through Affordable Transportation, drove people to their doctors’ appointments through RSVP.


Francis will be fondly remembered as honest, intelligent, hardworking, a doer and a giver. He was a kind and loyal neighbor, always willing to give a helping hand and could fix just about anything. He lived his life morally with strong beliefs in what he felt was right and wrong. Francis was a quiet man of few words, a deep thinker. He had a dry and witty sense of humor.


Spending time with children and young people kept Francis young at heart. The gentle interactions Francis had with little ones around the campfire and during hayrides were precious. He was a nature enthusiast, who was especially drawn to the beauty of the land and wildlife. His beloved Shire horses, Mack and Molly, were his pride and joy.


Francis is survived by his wife, Jeanne; children, Allan Long, Judy Derricks, David (Jeanne) Long, Alice (Jerry) Johnson, Andrea (Mark) Zukor and Chris (Renee) Schwass; grandchildren, Lesli (Mark Matthias) Dietzman, Dominic (Jana) Derricks, Dana (Becca) Derricks, Sydney (Mitch) Fuller, and Kaitlyn Schwass ; 10 great- grandchildren and one on the way; and sister, Barbara (Vic) Vaade. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mabel; sister, Mary (Truman) Femrite; and former wife, Mary Long.


A Celebration of Life will be held at STOUGHTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 525 Lincoln Ave., Stoughton, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.


Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590


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Francis
D
Dana
Other •
Grandpa, If heaven has John Deere tractors and birds to feed, we'll know exactly where to find you. Thank you for showing me what it meant to be a man of family, faith, and consistency. In your own way, you always took care of things. You took care of yourself and inspired me to pursue health and fitness. You took care of your neighbors by delivering meals on wheels and feeding so many through the food pantry. You took care of your family by showing up in support of ball games, hosting countless get togethers, and supporting anything we needed. When I brought my football teammates home for spring break (two massive defensive linemen), you squeezed all 800 pounds of us into the back of your Prius without missing a beat. One of my greatest memories was having you make the trip to my Hall of Fame ceremony—your presence was worth more than any award. ...because it reminded me: No achievement is too great to celebrate without those who built the foundation. You were that foundation. You were a staple at the food pantry, A builder of many homes for needing families, A conductor of wagon rides, A feeder of birds (but never squirrels), A farmer that did it the right way, A selfless volunteer, A softspoken voice that always answered a call, A righteous man of faith, A Badger fan through and through. So here’s to you, Grandpa. The man who taught me how to serve others quietly but how to love loudly. You left the world better than you found it. Which, in the end, is how to win the game of life. Congratulations on living life the right way. I'll miss our calls and visits but won't forget them. Thank you for everything. I look forward to seeing you again. With eternal love and infinite gratitude, Your grandson “Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:21)
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Nancy Webb
Other •
Never met the gentleman but know well that dry and witty sense of humor, those gentle interactions, that intellectual honesty, as I know Al Long. —Nancy Webb, Madison
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Sally Pla
Other •
We never know the reach of what we do and who we touch in this life, but Mr. Long's decency and goodness will clearly live on. Condolences to his son Al, my long-distance friend, and condolences to all of the family.
DA
David Asperheim
Other •
Francis was a truly good person. He was friendly, hardworking & giving. I went to Bass Lake School with Francis, and one year of high school. Unfortunately, our lives took us in different directions & I saw far too little of Francis in the last 75 years.
SM
Sandra Maerz
Other •
Losing a special cousin who just happened to be a long time neighbor is hard to do. We will miss your sweet smile and subtle ways. Soar with the angels dear 'Babe'.
RP
Ruth Passehl
Other •
My Uncle "Boy," you held the spirit of a tree to me... tall, strong, and silent. I love you, Ruth Ann

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