Frankie D. Carson

Frankie Duane Carson, 76, of Diagonal, was born Feb. 16, 1948, to Leo Frank Carson and Dorothy Marie Ruby at the Hale Ranch in Jefferson Township, Ringgold County, Diagonal. Frank gained his wings May 10, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, after a short, but hard fought battle with lymphoma.

Frank grew up and lived in the Diagonal area all his life, except from 2003 to 2010, when he and wife Sue managed the Summit House Apartments in Creston. Frank traveled back and forth daily to check on the Diagonal farm. In 2010, Frank and Sue established residence in Knowlton, north of Diagonal, on his parent’s former homestead.

Frank married Barb Smith March 26, 1966. Through this union Kenneth Duane was born. They later divorced in 1969. Frank married Fannie Sue Garner Dec. 4, 1971. Through this union Melinda Sue, Trisha Rena and Nicholas Eugene were born.

Frank worked for Galen Stephens, the Goins Family milking cows and Taylor Fiberglass in his younger years. In June 1966, Frank started working at Hills McCann (later known as Wellman Dynamics) in Creston. He retired from there 44 years later in July 2010. He also served as the part-time maintenance person for Summit House Apartments from 2003 to 2010. Frank retired into farming on his 40 acres of heaven north of Diagonal, having hay, cows and the occasional deer.

Frank enjoyed going to watch his grandkids play all sports from football to softball, basketball to volleyball and archery. He was very supportive, and you could always hear him yell from the bench. He loved to go fishing with the grandkids in the pond next to the house. In his younger years, you could find him hunting with the gang from Arkansas in October during the first weekend of pheasant season. But the excitement really happened when the friends and family from Illinois came to hunt. Frank loved to play cards and cribbage. He and Sue were part of a card club with three other couples that began meeting monthly in December 1976, and last got together just two weeks ago. Frank and Sue played cribbage three times daily, keeping track of wins and losses on a yearly basis. Frank was never ahead.

He loved to go to auctions, but his family was very nervous each time he came home, wondering how big the pickup load of junk was this time. He also enjoyed woodworking, dancing and every August could be found going to the Iowa State Fair at least one day.

Frank was preceded in death by son, Kenny Carson; parents, Leo and Dorothy Carson; parents-in-law, Marion and Mildred Garner; stepmother-in-law, Mick Garner; brother, Jack Carson; brothers-in-law: Bill Garner, Harold Garner, Ryland Garner and Bill Ward; sisters-in-law: Betty Garner, LoDean Garner, Maxine Tridle, Lois Garner, Mary Evelyn Garner and Debbie Garner; nieces, Carrie Lee and Amy Jilg; nephews, Ronny Garner and Tony Garner.

Frank is survived by wife, Sue Carson; children: Melinda (Jon) Schaefer of Diagonal; Trisha (Doug) Dickinson of Creston; Nicholas Carson (friend, Tiffany Thornburg) of Orient; grandchildren: Mitchel (Stormy) Schaefer of Winterset, Keni Schaefer of Diagonal, Karly Calvin of Creston, Grace Dickinson of Ankeny, Aleah Calvin of Creston, Dylan Calvin of Creston, Max Dickinson of Ankeny, Dakota (Samantha) Spurrier of Carlisle, Harper (Tyler) Booth of Pella, Lillie Spurrier of Creston, Percie Carson of West Des Moines, Logann Carson of Orient, Maisyn Carson of Orient, Kolbie Carson of Orient, Tucker Carson of Orient and Logan Keeney and Lexie Keeney of Pleasantville; great-grandchildren: Otto Schaefer of Winterset and Baby Cub Spurrier due July 2024, of Carlisle; sisters-in-law: Virginia Carson of Diagonal, Bonnie Ward of Shenandoah and Georgia Garner of Carrollton, Illinois; brother-in-law, William Tridle of Orient; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 17, at Wishard Chapel Church, 1796 State Hwy 169, Mount Ayr. Family visitation will precede the services, starting at 9 a.m. through the start of the service. Burial will be in the Knowlton Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at Wishard Chapel Church.

Memorials are to go to the family, to be determined at a later date. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of Frank’s services.