Francis Marcus

Francis H. Marcus, age 74, of Willmar, died Tuesday morning, March 4, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 7, at the Willmar Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Steven Zwart officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Francis Harvey Marcus was born March 24, 1933, in Holland Township, the son of Garriet and Anna (Hoffman) Marcus. He grew up and attended country school in Holland Township. On April 17, 1953, he married Eleanor Ann Ulferts in Roseland. They made their home in Roseland until 1955, when they moved to Willmar. Francis worked for Allstate Hatchery and Supersweet Feeds, where he began as a truck driver and later became plant foreman and manager until they closed. He then worked for GTA until his retirement. He worked various odd jobs, like painting houses, to provide a Christian education for his three daughters so they could attend CMCS. He also did maintenance work for various apartment buildings, working many years for apartment manager, Kevin Hanson. He was a member of the Willmar Christian Reformed Church, where he served as an elder and taught Catechism.

He always enjoyed doing things for his children in their homes as he could plumb, do electrical work, do wood-working and build or fix anything. He built a house on the land they purchased on Lake Florida, where the family enjoyed many summers. He bought "big toys" just to see his grandkids enjoy time at the lake. He loved to fish with his grandkids even if it was just off the dock and they were sunnies or perch. Francis also enjoyed playing piao, guitar, accordian and harmonica, all which he learned to play by ear. He took his family on many trips and refused to let any of the kids "chip in." The latest trip was last summer when they enjoyed the Lincoln Museum and Memorial in Springfield, Illinois.

He is survived his wife of 54 years, Eleanor; three daughters, Marie Larson of Kerkhoven, Darla Marcus of Willmar and Michele (and Ron) Schroder of Long Grove, Iowa; seven grandchildren; three brothers, William (and Elaine) Marcus of Raymond, Calvin (and Mavis) Marcus of Raymond and Gerald (and Kathy) Marcus of Willmar; four sisters, Annie Brouwer of Buffalo, Selma (and Chuck) Hubers of Willmar, Josie (and Stan) Swart of Prinsburg and Eleanor Veurink of Pease; a sister-in-law, Grace Marcus of Prinsburg and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son-in-law, Terry Larson in 2000; a brother, Dick Marcus, two brothers-in-law, John Brouwer and John Zondervan; and a sister-in-law, Sarah Marcus.