Frank L. Dugger
February 16, 1927 — May 5, 2015
A Mass of Christian Burial for Frank Dugger will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Burial, with Military Honors, will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 2:00 p.m. Friday at the church where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Knoxville Fire & Rescue Association. Online condolences may be left at BertrandFuneralHomes.com.
Frank Laverne Dugger was born February 16, 1927 in What Cheer, Iowa the son of Donovan and Hazel (Colbert) Dugger.
He was raised in What Cheer and attended school there. In December of 1944 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served overseas on the USS WASP and was only 100 miles off the coast of Japan when World War II ended. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Seaman First Class on July, 29 1946. Frank then found work as a crane operator in New Jersey and later for the J.I. Case Company in Bettendorf, Iowa. He decided it was time for a career change, so Frank entered and graduated from the Elgin Watch School in Elgin, Illinois. He eventually moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where he and his business partner, Don Thomas, owned a jewelry store. After a few years in the store, Frank became a jewelry salesman, and in his travels he discovered Knoxville, Iowa. He became a partner in Modern Jewelers with Vance Wymore. Following Vance’s death, Frank purchased his interest and became sole owner. On April 15, 1988 he was united in marriage to Kathy Ewoldt. Frank retired and closed the store after 36 years at Modern Jewelers.
Throughout his career in Knoxville Frank was very civic minded and actively involved in many organizations including the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Civil Service Board, Marion County Savings & Loan Board and the Stanbrough Realty Bank Board. He had a passion for antique tractors and cars and was a member of the Early Wheels of Iowa Club and the Model A Club. He will be remembered as a friendly man who was always with a grin and a funny old saying or bit of wisdom.
Frank passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at the Knoxville Hospitals & Clinics, with his family by his side, at the age of 88 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Dennis, Duane and one in infancy and his daughter, Lynn.
Those left to cherish Frank’s memory include his wife, Kathy; daughters: Lisa Gade of Des Moines and Mary Dugger of Sacramento, California; grandchildren: Blake Dugger, Alexis Johnson, and Sara Galeazzi; step-children: Cindy Wisner, Sandy Coon and Jeanie (Larry) Ball; step-grandchildren: Jamie Ball, Christina (Cody) Moore, Madison Wisner and Jon Wisner; great-granddaughter, Wrenley Johnson; step-great grandchild, Liam Moore and many other family members and friends.
Frank Laverne Dugger was born February 16, 1927 in What Cheer, Iowa the son of Donovan and Hazel (Colbert) Dugger.
He was raised in What Cheer and attended school there. In December of 1944 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served overseas on the USS WASP and was only 100 miles off the coast of Japan when World War II ended. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Seaman First Class on July, 29 1946. Frank then found work as a crane operator in New Jersey and later for the J.I. Case Company in Bettendorf, Iowa. He decided it was time for a career change, so Frank entered and graduated from the Elgin Watch School in Elgin, Illinois. He eventually moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where he and his business partner, Don Thomas, owned a jewelry store. After a few years in the store, Frank became a jewelry salesman, and in his travels he discovered Knoxville, Iowa. He became a partner in Modern Jewelers with Vance Wymore. Following Vance’s death, Frank purchased his interest and became sole owner. On April 15, 1988 he was united in marriage to Kathy Ewoldt. Frank retired and closed the store after 36 years at Modern Jewelers.
Throughout his career in Knoxville Frank was very civic minded and actively involved in many organizations including the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Civil Service Board, Marion County Savings & Loan Board and the Stanbrough Realty Bank Board. He had a passion for antique tractors and cars and was a member of the Early Wheels of Iowa Club and the Model A Club. He will be remembered as a friendly man who was always with a grin and a funny old saying or bit of wisdom.
Frank passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at the Knoxville Hospitals & Clinics, with his family by his side, at the age of 88 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Dennis, Duane and one in infancy and his daughter, Lynn.
Those left to cherish Frank’s memory include his wife, Kathy; daughters: Lisa Gade of Des Moines and Mary Dugger of Sacramento, California; grandchildren: Blake Dugger, Alexis Johnson, and Sara Galeazzi; step-children: Cindy Wisner, Sandy Coon and Jeanie (Larry) Ball; step-grandchildren: Jamie Ball, Christina (Cody) Moore, Madison Wisner and Jon Wisner; great-granddaughter, Wrenley Johnson; step-great grandchild, Liam Moore and many other family members and friends.
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