Margarete O. (Lang) Franklin, 87, passed peacefully from this life Saturday morning surrounded by family at the home of her daughter, Ingrid Mielke in Indianapolis.
She was born on January 13, 1930, in Nurmberg, Germany.
In 1952, she met the love of her life, Joseph D. Franklin, who was serving in the U.S. Army. She then came to America on January 13, 1954 and on January 23, 1954 married Joe in the Loogootee Methodist Church. They resided in Loogootee until June of 2007 when they moved to Indianapolis to
live with their daughter, Ingrid, due to illness. They were married for 56 years until his death on May 15th, 2010.
In 1957 Margarete was proud to become a Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
During her retirement she and Joe, along with Poncho (their faithful family dog), enjoyed being “Winter Texans” for 15 years, traveling to San Benito, Texas during the winter months and regularly visiting Progresso, Mexico, with friends and family.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, the quilting club of American RV Park in San Benito, TX and various camping clubs. She enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her hobbies were sewing, knitting and crocheting. She worked at the Loogootee Textile for many years and retired from UniRoyal in Washington.
She is survived by one son,; Adolf Oerter (wife Marita) of Nurnberg, Germany, and two daughters, Ingrid Mielke (husband Jerry) of Indianapolis, and Angela Franklin (life partner Monica Abeyta) of San Antonio, TX; ten grandchildren, Alex Oerter, Christian Oerter (deceased), Barbara (Oerter) Schambeck, Michael Oerter, Tonya Bullock (life partner Mary Ann Osborne), Meredith Raben (husband Brad), Sarah McKinley (husband Chris), Madison Franklin-Abeyta, Joshua Franklin-Abeyta and McKenzie Franklin-Abeyta; eight great-grandchildren; Franziska Oerter, Felix Oerter, Lena Sofie Schambeck, Emilian Schambeck, Hannah Denise Bullock, Nathan Joseph Raben, Margaret Sophia “Maggie” Raben and Carter William Raben; sisters, Karola Engelhardt and Ingrid Thyen.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Martin Karl and Margarete Sofie; three sisters, Hannelore Lang, Hella Bredel and Else Leidig.
Visitation will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Loogootee from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 13th, 2017. Memorial services will commence at 3:00 p.m., followed by graveside rites at Goodwill Cemetery.
Arrangements are being made through Blake Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made at www.blakefuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or St. John’s Lutheran Church, Loogootee.