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Frank Anthony Pontier, 86, passed away peacefully at Clarke County Hospital Hospice on March 18, 2016, after an 18-month battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He was born May 10, 1929, in Carlisle to Arthur and Aglae Mary (Goubet) Pontier. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1947, served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War and was a member of Woodburn American Legion.
On Dec. 22, 1952, Frank was united in marriage to Willodean (Harrison) and they were blessed with six children. Frank loved spending time with his family and he enjoyed farming. He was a devoted member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Osceola.
Frank is survived by his wife Willodean; children, Sherry (Dan) Norelius of Ankeny, Sharon (Bill) Dirkx of Alleman, Tony of Overland Park, Kansas, Tim (Lisa) of Prole, Sheila (Randy) Adams of Chariton and Jeff (Ranae) of St. Charles; 20 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; brother Alexander of Indianola, brothers-in-law, Ralph Herron of Storm Lake and Lendell Harrison of Griffin, Georgia; sisters-in-law, LuElla Pontier of Des Moines and Olean Harrison of Rainsville, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Yewell and Bernice Harrison, brother Arthur Pontier, sisters, Florence Mortale and Celeste Herron, brothers-in-law, Armon Mortale and J.D. Harrison and sisters-in-law, Donna Pontier, Imogene Waller and Margie Wilson.
A rosary and prayer service will be held 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 28, at Kale’s Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola, followed by visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Osceola. Following the service, burial will take place at Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola.
In lieu of floral tributes, the family asks that you consider a memorial contribution that will benefit organizations that were meaningful to Frank, Clarke County Hospital Hospice Unit in Osceola, Clarke Community High School FFA program in Osceola and Circle of Friends Home Care in Chariton.