1912
Fran
2010
Fran Comstock
March 5, 1912 — April 15, 2010
Funeral services for Fran Comstock, age 98, of Milbank, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 19th, at the Christ Episcopal Church in Milbank. Marion Paulis will be the Lay Eucharistic Minister. The organist will be Roger Goosen and the vocalists will be Mark, Jr., Eric, and Shanna Comstock. Mr. Comstock died on Thursday, April 15th, at St. William's Care Center in Milbank.
Family members are asked to meet in the Guild Hall of the church by 10:00 a.m. Monday to attend services. Visitation will be at the Emanuel-Patterson Funeral Home of Milbank on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. There will be no visitation in the church prior to his services. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Davenport, Arthur Magedanz, Charles Magedanz, Clifford Dexter, Jim Voeltz, and Doug Rollins. Active pallbearers will be his seven grandchildren: Mark Comstock, Jr.; Eric Comstock, Shanna Comstock, Matthew Comstock, Adam Comstock, Nicole Comstock, and Ashley Comstock. Burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery with graveside military rites presented by the Grant County VFW Post #3486 and the Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9, of Milbank.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Christ Episcopal Church in Milbank.
Francis Allie Comstock was born on March 5, 1912, at Alden, MN, to Allie and Mabel (Hurlbutt) Comstock. He moved with his parents to California where they resided from 1926-27. In 1927 they moved to Albert Lea, MN.
Fran graduated from high school in Albert Lea in 1931. Following high school he worked in a lumberyard for one year. He attended a dry cleaning school in Silver Springs, Md. He then worked at Johnson Laundry and Dry Cleaners in Mankato, MN.
Fran married June Bradbury on May 2, 1942, at Albert Lea, MN. Following marriage, the couple lived in Albert Lea where Fran managed Johnson Laundry and Dry Cleaners.
He was a WW II veteran having served his country in the U.S. Army from October 21, 1942, until his honorable discharge on January 8, 1946. He was wounded in battle in France and was hospitalized there for three months. He was then sent to the Philippines. Fran received the American Theater Service Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the Rifleman's Combat Infantry Badge, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Purple Heart. His final rank was Technical Sergeant.
Following his service to his country, Fran returned to Albert Lea, MN, where he managed Johnson Laundry and Dry Cleaners. In 1948 he purchased a dry cleaners business in Staples, MN, which became Comstock Cleaners. He sold that business in 1951, moved to Milbank, and purchased Apex Cleaners. They operated Apex Cleaners in a rented building west of the original Valley Queen Cheese Factory until 1959 when they built the present Apex Cleaners building. In 1977 they sold the business to Dale Schultz. Fran worked with Dale for one year.
He was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church where he had been Senior Warden for many years. He had been a Rotarian while living in Staples, MN. Fran was a life member of the Milbank Chapter 19, Disabled American Veterans and member of the Grant County VFW Post #3486 and the Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9 in Milbank. He was a past president of the Milbank Chamber of Commerce. He was also a former American Legion historian, American Legion Baseball volunteer, and Meals on Wheels volunteer. Fran especially enjoyed attending many of the 70th Army Division reunions.
Fran thoroughly loved photography and was almost a professional. He had his own dark room. He always took pictures at Army and family reunions and family weddings. Fran won several awards for his pictures.
Survivors include his wife June, of Milbank; four children: Suzanne David, Tubac, AZ; Tom Comstock and wife Susan, Rochester Hills, MI; Mark Comstock and wife Linda, Milbank; and Bryan "Buzz" Comstock and wife Betty, Mankato, MN; seven grandchildren: Mark, Jr., Eric, Shanna, Matthew, Adam, Nicole, and Ashley Comstock; and five great grandchildren: Madeline, Carly, Drew, Reese, and Emily Comstock.
Fran was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Irene and Kathryn; one brother, Leslie; and one grandson, Jeffrey Comstock.
Family members are asked to meet in the Guild Hall of the church by 10:00 a.m. Monday to attend services. Visitation will be at the Emanuel-Patterson Funeral Home of Milbank on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. There will be no visitation in the church prior to his services. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Davenport, Arthur Magedanz, Charles Magedanz, Clifford Dexter, Jim Voeltz, and Doug Rollins. Active pallbearers will be his seven grandchildren: Mark Comstock, Jr.; Eric Comstock, Shanna Comstock, Matthew Comstock, Adam Comstock, Nicole Comstock, and Ashley Comstock. Burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery with graveside military rites presented by the Grant County VFW Post #3486 and the Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9, of Milbank.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Christ Episcopal Church in Milbank.
Francis Allie Comstock was born on March 5, 1912, at Alden, MN, to Allie and Mabel (Hurlbutt) Comstock. He moved with his parents to California where they resided from 1926-27. In 1927 they moved to Albert Lea, MN.
Fran graduated from high school in Albert Lea in 1931. Following high school he worked in a lumberyard for one year. He attended a dry cleaning school in Silver Springs, Md. He then worked at Johnson Laundry and Dry Cleaners in Mankato, MN.
Fran married June Bradbury on May 2, 1942, at Albert Lea, MN. Following marriage, the couple lived in Albert Lea where Fran managed Johnson Laundry and Dry Cleaners.
He was a WW II veteran having served his country in the U.S. Army from October 21, 1942, until his honorable discharge on January 8, 1946. He was wounded in battle in France and was hospitalized there for three months. He was then sent to the Philippines. Fran received the American Theater Service Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the Rifleman's Combat Infantry Badge, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Purple Heart. His final rank was Technical Sergeant.
Following his service to his country, Fran returned to Albert Lea, MN, where he managed Johnson Laundry and Dry Cleaners. In 1948 he purchased a dry cleaners business in Staples, MN, which became Comstock Cleaners. He sold that business in 1951, moved to Milbank, and purchased Apex Cleaners. They operated Apex Cleaners in a rented building west of the original Valley Queen Cheese Factory until 1959 when they built the present Apex Cleaners building. In 1977 they sold the business to Dale Schultz. Fran worked with Dale for one year.
He was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church where he had been Senior Warden for many years. He had been a Rotarian while living in Staples, MN. Fran was a life member of the Milbank Chapter 19, Disabled American Veterans and member of the Grant County VFW Post #3486 and the Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9 in Milbank. He was a past president of the Milbank Chamber of Commerce. He was also a former American Legion historian, American Legion Baseball volunteer, and Meals on Wheels volunteer. Fran especially enjoyed attending many of the 70th Army Division reunions.
Fran thoroughly loved photography and was almost a professional. He had his own dark room. He always took pictures at Army and family reunions and family weddings. Fran won several awards for his pictures.
Survivors include his wife June, of Milbank; four children: Suzanne David, Tubac, AZ; Tom Comstock and wife Susan, Rochester Hills, MI; Mark Comstock and wife Linda, Milbank; and Bryan "Buzz" Comstock and wife Betty, Mankato, MN; seven grandchildren: Mark, Jr., Eric, Shanna, Matthew, Adam, Nicole, and Ashley Comstock; and five great grandchildren: Madeline, Carly, Drew, Reese, and Emily Comstock.
Fran was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Irene and Kathryn; one brother, Leslie; and one grandson, Jeffrey Comstock.