1932
Francis
2014
Francis Gathman
January 16, 1932 — April 2, 2014
Francis (Frank) Gathman, 82, resident of Detroit Lakes, MN, died peacefully, Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at Oak Crossing, Detroit Lakes. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, April 7 at 10AM in Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Detroit Lakes. Visitation will be held one hour prior to Mass. Interment will be held in Oak Grove Cemetery with full Military Honors to follow.
Frank was born in Anamoose, ND in 1932 to Ted and Bernice (Zimmerman) Gathman and was the eldest of 11 children. The family lived mostly in Berthold, ND where Frank graduated from high school in 1950. He later graduated from teachers college and taught for a short time before entering the US Army in 1952. He married Virginia Mahrer in July, 1952. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and began attending classes at ND Ag College (now NDSU) graduating in 1959 with a degree in Architectural Engineering. During college, Frank began working in the kitchen at the VA hospital and later became a trainee in Engineering and later the Asst. Chief Engineer all at the Fargo VA. In 1962, he was promoted to the Chief Engineer position in Cheyenne, WY and later served in the same role in Louisville, KY and Indianapolis, IN. In 1971, Frank was selected for the Associate Director program and began serving in more responsible roles in St Louis, MO, Columbia, SC, Washington, DC, and North Chicago, IL. In 1978, Frank became the Director of the VA hospital in Knoxville, IA and served there until 1980 when he became Director of the VA in Fargo until his retirement from the VA in 1986. Frank worked for 3 years in the placement office at NDSU and was Commandant at the ND Veterans home in Lisbon, from 1991 to 1993. Along the way, Frank and Virginia had five children all born in different states, Michael (Augusta, GA), Kristie, (Fargo, ND,), Tammy, (Cheyenne, WY), Timothy (Louisville, KY,) and Patrick, (Indianapolis, IN) and they have 10 grandchildren with 3 great grandchildren. All five children attended NDSU.
In addition to being a loving husband and dad, he liked hunting, golfing, and fishing. He also enjoyed woodworking, craftwork, and tumbling rocks and sharing the items he made with family and friends. He maintained a strong loyalty to our veterans and was always interested in advocating and assisting his fellow vets. Frank actively worked in the Detroit Lakes Veteran Golf Classic for several years and will have a special memorial for this years' tournament held June 27, 2014. Frank is best remembered for his open friendliness and his ability to initiate conversation with anyone and make them feel special. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Kathy Moser and daughter Kristie Throgmorton. Memorials can be made to the Disabled American Veterans Lakeland Chapter 31, PO Box 950, Detroit Lakes, MN 56502.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Monday, April 7, 2014
Service
Monday, April 7, 2014
Frank was born in Anamoose, ND in 1932 to Ted and Bernice (Zimmerman) Gathman and was the eldest of 11 children. The family lived mostly in Berthold, ND where Frank graduated from high school in 1950. He later graduated from teachers college and taught for a short time before entering the US Army in 1952. He married Virginia Mahrer in July, 1952. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and began attending classes at ND Ag College (now NDSU) graduating in 1959 with a degree in Architectural Engineering. During college, Frank began working in the kitchen at the VA hospital and later became a trainee in Engineering and later the Asst. Chief Engineer all at the Fargo VA. In 1962, he was promoted to the Chief Engineer position in Cheyenne, WY and later served in the same role in Louisville, KY and Indianapolis, IN. In 1971, Frank was selected for the Associate Director program and began serving in more responsible roles in St Louis, MO, Columbia, SC, Washington, DC, and North Chicago, IL. In 1978, Frank became the Director of the VA hospital in Knoxville, IA and served there until 1980 when he became Director of the VA in Fargo until his retirement from the VA in 1986. Frank worked for 3 years in the placement office at NDSU and was Commandant at the ND Veterans home in Lisbon, from 1991 to 1993. Along the way, Frank and Virginia had five children all born in different states, Michael (Augusta, GA), Kristie, (Fargo, ND,), Tammy, (Cheyenne, WY), Timothy (Louisville, KY,) and Patrick, (Indianapolis, IN) and they have 10 grandchildren with 3 great grandchildren. All five children attended NDSU.
In addition to being a loving husband and dad, he liked hunting, golfing, and fishing. He also enjoyed woodworking, craftwork, and tumbling rocks and sharing the items he made with family and friends. He maintained a strong loyalty to our veterans and was always interested in advocating and assisting his fellow vets. Frank actively worked in the Detroit Lakes Veteran Golf Classic for several years and will have a special memorial for this years' tournament held June 27, 2014. Frank is best remembered for his open friendliness and his ability to initiate conversation with anyone and make them feel special. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Kathy Moser and daughter Kristie Throgmorton. Memorials can be made to the Disabled American Veterans Lakeland Chapter 31, PO Box 950, Detroit Lakes, MN 56502.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Previous Events
VisitationMonday, April 7, 2014
9:00 AM
- 10:00 AM
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
1043 Lake Avenue
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Monday, April 7, 2014
10:00 AM
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
1043 Lake Avenue
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Cemetery Details
Location
Oak Grove Cemetery
609 Hwy 10 East
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Francis Gathman, please visit our flower store.