Frances Neitzel
Frances Neitzel, age 97, died peacefully on April 10, 2024, at Marshfield Health Services, where she had resided since September. During her final days she was visited by family members and good friend, Diane Herron.
Frances with an “e” was how she introduced herself. She was born to Frank and Mae (Bradley) Goeltz at home in Colby, Wisconsin on September 15, 1926. Frances with an “e” graduated from Colby High School on May 9, 1944. She married the love of her life. Delbert (Bill) William Neitzel on May 24, 1944, at her parents’ house in Colby. As time passed, Frances with an “e’ became Fran or Frannie to family and friends.
Bill left for WWII on Jan. 24, 1945, until August 25, 1946. During that time, Fran and newborn Jacqueline lived with her parents. Fran worked at the Colby Drug Store. Her favorite job was making strawberry sodas, which she enjoyed consuming rather than making later in life. When Bill returned from service, they started and operated Bill’s Electric, in which Fran was the bookkeeper while raising her children and serving the community. Their family grew from three to seven with the addition of Carol Jean, Emery (Pete) William, Bill Frank, and Merrie Louise.
Fran was generous with her time and talent. She was a leader for the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Fran taught Sunday School and Bible study for the Colby Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Eastern Star. Fran was a hospice volunteer in the Winter/ Phillips area after retirement. She was quick to volunteer whenever the need or opportunity arose. She made afghans for all her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Pushed by the expanding business and family, they moved to Hwy. N outside Colby into homes they built. In 1974 Fran and Bill purchased Joe’s Appliance Store and Fran became Chief Sales Officer and her duties for the business grew. Fran enjoyed playing board games, cards, scrabble, and socializing with family and friends in her spare time. She was a good cook and always prepared your favorite dish or treat. You never left hungry or thirsty. She created many lasting friendships while in Colby. Bill and Fran successfully operated Bill’s Electric until retirement. They retired to the Northwoods in Winter, to a house they built in 1987. Fran was skeptical at first, however, she found her Colby friends loved visiting her and new Winter friends liked socializing and playing cards as well. Her life was more relaxed, and she even had time to go fishing. She was able to do everything she enjoyed.
When Bill passed away in 2015, Fran moved to Marshfield where she found even more friends at Parkview, Craig and Merrie’s home and an assisted living facility. She was one of the ladies who walked through the Marshfield Clinic’s Pharmacy drivethrough.
Fran will be sadly missed by her children: Carol “Jeannie”, Pete (Mary), Bill (Jan) and Merrie (Craig); 12 grandchildren: Joy (Paul), Kim (Dave), Sean (Susan), Shane (Sara), Jen (Gary), Beth (Scott), Keith (Lindsey), Autumn (Tom), Brad (Fran), Chelsea, Matt (Maddison) and Mercedes (Dawson); 15 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren, and a daughter-in-law, Carol Peickert.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill (the love of her life), her parents, her daughter, Jacqueline Peickert, Jackie’s husband Lowell, sibling Frank Goeltz, her sister and brother-in-laws and a greatgranddaughter, Abagail Giza.
Frances’ Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Zion Community Church in Marshfield at 11 a.m. The family will welcome friends and visitors starting at 9:30 a.m. A fellowship and lunch will follow at the Marshfield Eagles Club.
The family wishes to thank the Marshfield Health Services and Heartland Hospice personnel for the care and compassion provided Frances while under their care.
Paid obituary 151667
