July 13, 1925 - December 23, 2017

Frances Means, age 92, a resident of Spooner, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, December 23, 2017.

Frances was born on July 13, 1925, on a farm in Washburn County to parents Henry and Anna (Biver) Vogel.  She attended school up through 8th grade and then stayed home to help on the farm until she was united in marriage to Wayne Means, in Spooner, on December 7, 1947.  The couple lived in Spooner before moving to Trego for 14 years, and then moved back to Spooner for the rest of their lives.  Wayne and Fran were married for 58 years and raised 5 children.  Fran worked most of her life as a bartender at Riplinger’s Bar for 4 years and then at Sportsmans Bar for 37 years.  In 1990, she was bestowed the honor of being inducted into the Bartenders Hall of Fame.

Fran is survived by her children:  Kay Bowers of Stacy, MN, Roxanne (William) LaPage of Spooner, WI, Theresa (Robert) Post of Eden, WI, Sandra Myers of Spooner, WI, 9 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, many great great grandchildren, and also many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Fran is preceded in death by her parents, husband Wayne in 2005, son David, brother Charles, sisters Kathleen and Cecilia, sons-in-law Dennis Myers and Kenneth Bowers, sisters-in-law Valerie Vogel, Hughetta Heidtke, Delores Lauterbach, and Evelyn Means, brothers-in-law Ernie Ludwig, Wallace Olson, Willard Means and Frank Means.

Fran loved her church, going to her church, and was very active there throughout her life.  She was a Trustee for 27 years, a Eucharistic Minister for 26 years, a member of the Lourdes Group for many years, and a member of the CCW.  She was also a member of the National Catholic Society of Foresters, and in 2006 she received the Pax Christi Award.

Fran loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.  She had many wonderful fishing trips with her husband Wayne, some of which were to Canada.  She was an avid and very good card player.  As her husband was a Veteran of WWII, Fran was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and also the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.  Fran gave her time to her community by serving on the Spooner Election Board for many years.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Spooner with Fr. Bala as Celebrant.  Music will be provided by the St. Francis de Sales Choir and Organist Sue Cosmano.  Visitation will be on Thursday, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.  Interment will follow at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery with her husband Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, Fran’s request was that memorials be directed to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church or the St. Francis de Sales School.

Online condolences may be left at www.bratley-nelsonchapels.com.

Last Update: Dec 16, 2018 5:44 pm CST