Born to Eternal Life on Saturday, September 21, 2024.   Age 98.   Beloved wife of Arthur Franke Jr. for 66 years.   Dear mother of Lynn Edgar, Tom (Gail) Franke, Susan Franke and Scott (Dawn) Franke.  Loving grandmother of Joe Bailey; Thomas Zebulan (Cindy) Franke and Shae (Chris) Olsen;  Sara (Derek Hay) Kroenke and Ryan Kroenke (Lauren Karlov); Seth and Michelle Franke.  Loving great grandmother of Nicole (Devin) Hall and Jessica (Kayden) Preston; Hugo and Bridger Franke; Walter and Calvin Hay; and Cooper Olsen.  Loving great great grandmother of Thatcher and Eva Preston.  Further survived by her brother-in-law Les Borman and sister-in-law Kathleen (“Katie”) Pankratz.  

Preceded in death by her parents Max and Agnes (Einberger) Pankratz, sisters Kathleen (Ray) Pollack, Phyllis Borman, and Maxine (Norb) Fitzgerald and brother John Pankratz; Further preceded by in-laws Ethel (Ray) Jagodinsky; Florence (Edgar) Knutson; Grace (Silas) Pierce; Milton (Eleanor) Franke; Violet (Robert) Garberg; Carol Thiel; Russell (Eleanore) Franke; Jeanette (Harold) Boldt; and Marjorie (Paul) Allen.      

Mary was raised in Valders, Wisconsin and was a devout Catholic. In 1948 she married Arthur Henry (“Bud”) Franke Jr. and raised four children. Mary was an excellent mother, grandmother, homemaker, cook, hostess and volunteer.   She enjoyed golf, bowling and bridge.   She built a wide circle of friends during her various stops in life in Milwaukee, New Berlin, West Bend and Bradenton, Florida.  She added a spark to any gathering and truly enjoyed love, friendship and laughter among the company of others.  

Our family gives special thanks to the dedicated staff at The Cottages in Shawano, Wisconsin for their loving care and kindness to Mary in her last stages of life.     

Visitation will start at 9:30am on October 12, 2024 at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, 10121 W North Ave Wauwatosa, WI 53226 followed by a memorial service at 10:30 am.  Burial will be at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc, WI.   In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to The Cottages in Shawano, WI.