Donald Francis

Donald Sachse Francis passed away on February 10th, 2013. Don was born on March 17th, 1921 to Carroll and Irma Francis in Portland Oregon. Don attended Belmont Grade School and graduated from Grant High School in 1939 where he was a gymnast and pole-vaulter. He then attended OSU where he was a star on the OSU ski team and a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Don enrolled in ROTC and graduated as a First Lieutenant with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1943. Don married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Nadine Korlann, on Christmas Eve 1942. After college Don served in the US Army building temporary bridges, for our troops fighting in Europe, until the end of the war.

After the war Don joined his father and uncles Jack and George Francis in running the family business, Dealers Supply Co.. Nadine shared Don’s lifelong passion for snow skiing as they enjoyed several winter vacations to Sun Valley Id. and Mount Bachelor near Bend Or. where they built a vacation home. Don enjoyed bird hunting, golfing and sunbathing whenever the snow wasn’t flying.

Don is survived by his wife of 70 years, Nadine, sons Peter Donald (Kathy), Richard Walter (Beverly), Kenneth Paul (Barbara), daughter Carol Jean Golden (Lonell), Sister Anne Kinney, 12 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild and one deceased grandchild, Michelle Golden.

The family will hold a private family gathering to celebrate Don’s life.