Franz – Robert (Bob) Franz of Brooks, loving husband of Grace Franz, passed away in Brooks on Sunday, April 6th, 2025 at the age of 79 years. Bob was born in a two room shack in the dusty coal-mining town of Coleman, Alberta, to Robert and Marie Franz (nee Hammer). They moved to a new home, built by his father and grandfather, in what was then the hamlet of Willow Drive at the west end of Coleman in 1952. Bob went to school in Coleman, starting out in elementary school at Cameron School, where he met the love of his life Grace in second grade, and his junior and senior high at Coleman Central High School. As a child and teenager he enjoyed hiking in the surrounding mountains with his dog, likely named Rex, in the summers and tobogganing and pond skating with close friends in the winter. He excelled academically, receiving honor grades throughout school and delighted in drama presentations, debates and editing the school newspaper. Upon high school graduation he attended the University of Alberta for two years and began teaching at the age of twenty at Horace Allen Junior Senior High School and at Central Elementary School, teaching grade 6 Language at the latter to give the principal time for administration. With the construction of the Crowsnest Consolidated High School in 1970, he became senior Biology teacher at one point teaching four classes of Biology 30 and 6 classes of Biology 20. As school enrolments declined he also taught Physics, Psychology and locally developed grade 9 option courses (including Community Industries), and ran an archery and two astronomy, and rocketry clubs. Bob returned to school to complete his Masters in Education from the University of Alberta in 1974. In 1980, he moved to Hays, Alberta, to be the principal at Hays School, and to Brooks in 1981 where he took on the role of Deputy Chief Superintendent of Schools for the County of Newell, and then of Grasslands Public School Division from 1994 until his retirement in 2005. Bob was involved in many societies, boards and community projects, too many to list. Most recently he was involved in the Alberta Genealogy Society and had traced his lineage back to 400A.D. He was a published writer and an artist winning multiple awards throughout the Province for his pencil sketches and silverpoint drawings. Bob will be remembered for his wisdom, sense of humor, little walks (10km hikes through mountainous terrain), terrible dad jokes, stories and most importantly the love he had for his wife, children and grandchildren. His fondest memories include visits to his grandparents Hammer as a child and playing cards with them as an adult, writing to his Grandma (Emma) Franz, visits with his Aunt Irene and Uncle Fred Puchko, camping holidays and hiking explorations with family, playing cards and board games, private one-on-one conversations with Meghan and Kyle, playing trolls with Tayin, and spider with Violet, time spent joking, laughing and the sense of humor of the extended family, walks with Grace and quiet time with the cats. Bob was predeceased by his mother, Marie Franz and father, Robert Franz Sr. He is survived by he wife, Grace Franz, son Kyle Franz, daughter Meghan (Jesse) Doherty, grandchildren Tayin Doherty and Violet Doherty, Aunt Mae Johnson and Aunt Eleanor Hammer. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 2:00 PM from the Heritage Inn and Convention Centre, Brooks.
Cremation is entrusted to and conducted at
Smith Funeral Home Ltd., Brooks
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD.
BROOKS, ALBERTA
Condolences may be forwarded through www.sfh.ca
Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free 866-362-4652
“Our Families Serving Your Family with Complete Burial or Cremation Services”
