Frances Louise Feiereisen, 88, died Wednesday, December 27, 2006, at her home in Cedar Rapids. Services will be Sunday, December 31, at 1:30 pm at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids.  Burial will follow in Czech National Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the services Sunday at Brosh Chapel.

Frances was born October 4, 1918, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Joseph and Libbie (Hach) Zitek. She married John D. Feiereisen on September 27, 1941.  Upon her retirement from Bankers' Life and Casuality Company, Northbrook, Illinois, she and John returned to live in the Cedar Rapids area.

Frances is survived by two daughters, Joyce and husband Jim Lane of Mount Vernon, and Sandra and husband Greg Harman of Shueyville; two granddaughters, Jennifer Lane of Cedar Rapids and Jessica Robinson of West Des Moines;  four grandsons, John Lane of Chattanooga, Tenn., Graham Harman of Cairo, Egypt, Seth Harman of Toronto, Canada,  Raven Zachary of Portland, Oregon; eight great grandsons and one great granddaughter.  She is also survived by her sister, Irma Rozek, sister-in-law Betty Zitek, and brother-in-law Richard Feiereisen and his wife Margaret, all of Cedar Rapids; and 18 special nieces and nephews and their families residing from Virginia to California.

Preceding her in death were her husband John; her parents; sisters Mildred Nemec and Irene Lehmann; and brothers Lumir (Chic), Joseph, and Marvin Zitek.

Fran will be remembered as a talented high school athelete who continued playing  volleyball, basketball, and softball in area leagues for two decades following her graduation from Wilson High School.  One of the original "superwomen", Fran kept the home fires burning, raising her first daughter by herself while her husband served in the Army Air Corps in Europe during World War II.  She was a loving mother, adept seamstress,  remarkable cook,  tireless house cleaner, PTA President, Blue Bird and Campfire Leader, all while working outside the home.  She went on to leave her mark as the world's greatest grandmother, taking each of her grandchildren to Disney World, organizing memorable Christmas and birthday celebrations, attending school plays and concerts, sending an endless stream of care packages to various colleges, assisting in countless dorm and apartment moves, and giving each of her grandchildren uncondtional love.

Following the death of her husband, Fran resided with her daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Jim Lane.  She enjoyed the time she spent at their cabin at Ivanhoe, never tiring of the river view she had from her chair by the fireplace. At the time of her death, Fran was residing at her home in Cedar Rapids where she was lovingly and capably cared for by her granddaughter Jennifer Lane. The family will remain forever grateful to Jennifer for the priceless contribution to her grandmother's final months of life.  Fran's family was assisted in her care by Caring Hands of Iowa City, and the wonderful staff at Hospice of Iowa City, especially Paula and Diana.   A special thank you to Karen Ealy for brightening Fran and John's last years, and Linda Werning who cared for Fran every morning, calling her "my friend".  Without their kind and loving care Fran would not have been able to remain at home.

A memorial fund has been established in Fran's name at 2417 Mallory SW, Cedar Rapids IA 52404.