Obituaries : Frances L. Lundvall

VINTON – Frances Louise Lundvall, 80, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at Windsor Manor in Vinton.

A Memorial Mass will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 1, 2016, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton with Rev. Ardel Barta as Celebrant. Memorial visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to Mass. Committal services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 2, in Calvary Cemetery, Webster City, Iowa.

Frances was born February 22, 1936, in Davis City, Iowa, the daughter of William Walter Fugate and Gertrude Evangaline (O’Bryan) Fugate. The seventh child of 18 children in the Fugate family, she was fondly known as “Francie” to her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. She graduated from Webster City High School in 1954, started her college work in 1966 at Webster City’s junior college (now known as Iowa Central) and then went on to graduate from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Speech and English, along with teaching certification..

On December 28, 1953, Frances was united in marriage with George Arthur Burkett in Webster City, Iowa. George preceded her in death on March 6, 1965.

On August 16, 1969, Frances was united in marriage with Martin Lauren Lundvall at St. Patrick’s Church in Cedar Falls.

Frances began her teaching career as a substitute high school teacher in and around La Porte City, Iowa, before moving into a position as a communications instructor at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, where she worked for 20 years. She took great pride in the contributions she made to the futures of those she taught, and she thoroughly enjoyed the interpersonal experiences with students and fellow instructors that came with being a teacher and teaching colleague.

Frances was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton, and for many years prior to moving to Vinton was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Porte City. Frances loved spending time with her friends and family and was happy to talk for hours about books, religion, work, people, life experiences and current events. In any conversation, she was always “in the moment” as an attentive listener as well as a thoughtful confidant and a devoted friend.

Knowing Frances was knowing someone who loved reading. The thousands of books she read through the years were a source of many conversation threads, some based on her favorite mystery and human interest titles, and others based on the biographical, educational and reference books she read. She received more joy from borrowing, loaning and reading books than anyone could hope for in a lifetime.

Frances is survived by her husband of 46 years, Martin Lundvall, of Vinton; one daughter, Linda Hanna-Burkett of Indianapolis, IN; five sons: Bill (Mary) Burkett of Independence; Mike (Tammy) Burkett of Nowthen, MN; Joe (Elizabeth) Burkett of Summerfield, NC; Tom (Dawn) Lundvall and Marty Lundvall, both of Vinton; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, George; and one son, Paul Burkett;

A memorial fund has been established.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Frances and her family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.