Edward M. Franz
Born December 26, 1937
Edward M. Franz, age 78, of New Castle, DE, was led home to Heaven to be reunited with his beloved wife, Helga on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.
Born in Pittsburgh, PA on December 26, 1937, Edward was a son of the late Anthony L. Franz, Sr. and Mary Eleanor (Kiefer) Franz. A career U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, he completed over 25 years of military service in Korea, Germany, Vietnam and various other installations in America before retiring. Edward met Helga Brückner at her birthday party on April 8, 1963 while he was serving one of many tours of duty in Germany. On September 3rd of the same year, they traveled to Basil, Switzerland to be married. For the next 17 years, Helga and Edward were inseparable, except for when they were parted by his service in Vietnam. They raised four children together and the family enjoyed their assignments to Germany and vacationing there each year.
After his retirement, Edward and Helga enjoyed another 33 years of married bliss together prior to her passing on February 17, 2014.
In addition to his parents and beloved Helga, he was preceded in death by his mother and father in law, Gunda and Fritz Brückner; sister, Mary Eleanor Pawlak; brother in law, Fritz; sisters in law, Louse and her husband, Werner and Ingrid and her husband, Ken; grandson, Robert Wingler; and a nephew Harold. Edward is survived by his children, Harry Brückner (Darlene) of Middletown, DE, Darlyne Curry of Bear, DE, Diane Wingler (John) of Sheridan, WY and Charlotte Delker (John) of Elkton, MD; brothers, Anthony L. Franz, Jr. (Linda) of Pittsburgh, PA; George R. Franz (Carol) of Fountain, CO; brother in law, Stanley Pawlak of Pittsburgh, PA; 14 grandchildren, Tim, Brandon, Brooke, Sean, Brea, Chasity, Sabrina, Mark, Glen, Rebecca, Lillian, MacKenzie, Jamaal and Diane; and many great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday morning, January 16, 2016, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am. Interment will be held privately in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans of Delaware, PO Box 407, Camden, DE 19934.
Charlotte
Daddy. I know you are in heaven with mom watching over us. It was so quick we never got to say goodbye. I will keep your memories in my heart. I love you
Love
Charlotte
Diane
I was blessed to have such a great man be my Dad. I will miss you greatly.
Darlyne Curry
My Dear Father,(Edward) Now you can rest your head, for your journey is now complete…Your back in Mom’s (Helga) arms where you yearned to be..I’m gonna miss you,I watched you suffer from the loss of my Mother..even then your wit & ur humor never left ur side, you made me laugh you made me smile,, even as i hid the tears that I cried…I know in my heart you did what you could, you taught me truth,kindness,&honor..The rest was past down from Mother to
Daughter. Now when I close my eyes to sleep,I know that you and Mom will be watching over me, I Love You, Daddy, Give Mommy a Hug & a Big Kiss : ) 2016
Brooke
Well Poppop, I know you wanted to be with Oma again but you knew I was supposed to be visiting you this week.. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. You know that I love you with all my heart. I hope you’re telling Oma everything that has happened in the past year & 11 months that she has been gone. I’ll see you both soon. Look down on all of us. Fly high in heaven ❤️
Chasity Estrella
Pop pop I know we didn’t see each other often but I do love you and remember all the times we did have together. Catching firefly s in the front yard, Playing in the pool out back, going to the swap meet, spending time with you and Oma was always fun. The last time I saw you and Oma was dads wedding and I still remember our long talk in the dinning room about what I had been up to. I’m so glad we got to talk a little lately even if only by text. I know you and Oma are dancing together in heaven and there is now a smile on your face. I hope we see each other again until then rest peaceful and enjoy eternity. I love you Lots Chas <3
Lenny & Cathy Novak
Edward – We were privileged to meet you at the cemetery and so enjoyed our long conversations. We thank you so much for helping with our friend Lee’s vase to put flowers in. That met the world to us and his wife. I know you always told us that a Sergeant looks after his men, and that sentence will always hold a special place in our hearts. We appreciate and applaud your dedicated service throughout the years, as our father’s were also in the service. To Edward’s children – we are so sorry for your loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your family at this difficult time.
Lillian
Thinking of you. I miss you already. We all knew you wanted to be with Oma and that’s where you all now. We were blessed to know you. You were a great Ssgt but an even better grandfather ❤️
Charlotte Delker
Thank you so much for your kind words. The kids loved talking to you at the viewing. It’s nice to know dad had found a friend in you
Richard McCarthy
ED;
Tell Helga hello from your German Family, I truly was blessed to have spent time in your home with you and Helga, I miss the both of you, the both of you are toghether and that is what matters, the love that both of you had for one another, sending our love.
Doris and Richard, Else and Willie.
Lillian
Thinking about you this Memorial Day ❤️
Lillian
I’m doing a project on Vietnam and I just wish I could call you and talk about it. I wish I knew what you knew. I’m so grateful to have known you PopPop. You are a true American hero and everyday I miss you more and more. I hope you met Joyce, she is a amazing woman. I can’t wait to see you again. Things are crazy here, but you know all that. I hope you Oma and everyone are happier up there. I love you. xoxo
Lillian Cannon
It’s snowing here in Pittsburgh. I’m still saddened I never got the time here with you, but I’m happy because I know you are in a better place. Tomorrow is Veterans Day and you will forever be my favorite veteran. I miss you. With all the love in the world ❤️
Lillian Cannon
Hey PopPop.
I’m a few days late, as I tend to be. I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you on Friday. But don’t worry, I was thinking about you. It snowed a lot, I know it was your doing. Just a quick note to say I love you. You’ll always be my hero, I just hope I’m making you and Oma proud.
Xoxo