Obituary of Francis Robert Needham

Funeral services for Francis R. Needham will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 2010, at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Friday, May 21, until 7 p.m. with the family present, with a public Masonic Service at 7 p.m.. Memorials designated in Francis' name to the Masonic Lodge #520 in Baxter, Iowa, and may be left at the funeral home. Francis Robert Needham, 96, the son of Alfred Collins and Blanche O. (Cushatt) Needham, was born August 10, 1913 in Moline, Illinois. He attended public schools in Illinois, and graduated in 1932. He lived in Moline and then Des Moines, Iowa, prior to moving to Baxter, Iowa in 1945. He was in the grocery business with the A&P Company, owned Baxter Mercantile for two years, 1945-46, prior to selling. He then was employed by the Maytag Company in Newton, Iowa, retiring in 1977 from the payroll department On June 28, 1937, Francis was united in marriage with Ida Mae Henyan in Moline. He had devoted his life to his family, enjoyed golf, and was a member of the Community of Christ Church in Newton; Unit Masonic Lodge #520 AF&AM in Baxter, 63 year member; Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory and Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, both since 1970; Madon Shrine #38, White Shrine of Jerusalem in Marshalltown; Newton Chapter #100, Order of the Eastern Star, 50 year member; Jasper County Shrine Club and the Newton Elks Lodge #1270. Francis died on Thursday morning, May 6, 2010 at his home in Newton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ida Mae in 1997; and a brother Milton J. Needham. Those left to honor Francis's memory include his two daughters: Linda S. Carlson of Redondo Beach, California and Pamela J. (Chuck) Hybl of Liberal, Kansas; his four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and his many good neighbors and friends. Calling hours will be Friday from 5 - 7pm. Visitation with the family will be from 5 - 7pm, with a public Masonic Service at 7 p.m. at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home, 310 N. 2nd Ave. E., Newton, IA. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:30 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Restland Cemetery, in Baxter.