C. Franklyn Heatwole

C. Franklyn Heatwole, 89, passed away on August 5, 2017 at his La Junta home. He was born to E. Herman & Nora (Good) Heatwole on February 1, 1928 in La Junta, Colorado. Franklyn married Esther Bixler on April 8, 1953 at the First Mennonite Church in La Junta.

He attended school at the Grand Valley Grade School at Hawley, 5 miles south of Rocky Ford and graduated from Swink High School class of 1946. He served two years in the US Army as a non-combatant during the Korean conflict.

Franklyn was baptized at the First Mennonite Church in La Junta as a youth and was an active member. He transferred his membership to Rocky Ford Mennonite Church in 1968. After moving to La Junta in 2003 he became a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church. He was a lifetime farmer and dairyman south of Rocky Ford.

Franklyn was a board member of the Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Rocky Ford. He also served on the governing board of Casa Del Sol Retirement Village.

He enjoyed coffee with friends, fishing, hunting, calling coyotes, watching sports on TV (Broncos and Rockies), coin-collecting, traveling, spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Esther of the La Junta home; children, Steven (Bonnie) Heatwole of Archbold, OH; Douglas (Theresa) Heatwole of Garden City, KS; Roger (Jane) Heatwole of Marshalltown, IA; James (Elizabeth) Heatwole of Peoria, IL; grandchildren, Sara and Benjamin Heatwole, Jennifer Bailey, Michael Heatwole, Shelby Heatwole, Jacob and Rachel Heatwole, Stewart, Oliver and Isabella Heatwole; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Charlene Nielson; sister-in-law, Emma Jean Heatwole. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Elbert Heatwole; brother-in-law, Alfred Nielsen.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church with Pastor Jeremy Yoder officiating. Visitation will be prior to service from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. also at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, 21 S. 12th Street, Akron, PA, 17501 or to the Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408, La Junta, CO, 81050, direct or through the funeral home.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.