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I’m speaking on behalf of myself and Roger Olson.
Roger and I worked with Fran at the former Northwestern Bell and U S West. Fran was the service coordinator, proof-reader (and you name it, she did it), for our company newspaper - the NWB NEWS - - which was published every two weeks and distributed to more than 50,000 active and retired employees in five states.
I vividly recall the first day I started as a staff writer in 1979. I (Gary Ihnen) was the “new kid” on the block – and I knew a lot of people were skeptical of me. I was scared stiff. In that respect and more, Fran was a breath of fresh air. She had such a warm, welcoming and kind demeanor and she answered so many questions that I was too fearful (or proud) to ask anyone else. In a word, she was like a “saint” to me. I survived. And became part of the team.
Time marched on. New buzzwords, new corporate cultures, new faces, new organizations and reorganizations and the list goes on. Through it all, despite it all, Fran became the glue that held us together. Whether it was a work issue or a personal issue, we knew she was always there to listen and offer her gentle, non-judgmental, God-centered wisdom.
She was also a “killer” proof-reader - - and during the Christmas Holidays – you had to wait in line for her dynamite homemade chocolate fudge and almond bark.
After her retirement in the late 1990s, both Roger and I kept in contact with Fran – and we were proud and honored to claim her as part of our “extended family.” We both loved her a lot and were blessed to know her in our life’s journey. She has a special place in our heart – and we will cherish it forever.
Our deepest condolences to Sharon, Jayne, Donald and Thomas.
Gary Ihnen (Cumming, IA) and Roger Olson (Ft. Collins, CO)
Tuesday, June 13, 2017 |
