The world lost Rod Franz. It is not better for it. Those of us, and there are many, who encountered Rod know he was a man to be admired. This is the eulogy I read at his remembrance:
My name is Tim Williams. For those of you who don’t know, I’m married to Karen’s sister, Judy. I’ve been honored to read words for Abe, for Dorothy, for Jane, and now, for Rod.
At Karen’s request, I read a draft of these words to Rod on his last night with us. They tell me his eyes were wide open. I don’t know if he was shocked, pleased, annoyed, or abashed.
It did feel a bit surreal reading past tense words to a person still with us, but it made me appreciate how important it is to tell people that we love them right here, right now, and forever.
I’ll share some of the love he heard now.
I first met Rod thirty four years ago when he and Karen came out for Judy and my wedding, so I don’t know Rod as well of many of you did. For example, I didn’t know Rod when he was the star point guard of the Buhler Crusaders State Championship Basketball team.
But I can see his shock of bright blond hair flashing through the key dropping off a nice assist, or “dime” as they call it today.
I can see his pesky little self harassing some dribbler, grinning like a Cheshire cat, flicking the ball away, and romping in for a layup.
I can see him as the floor general directing his teammates.
I can see him in the huddle, inspiring his guys.
I can feel his zeal, his joy, his love for the sport, and his humility.
After the game in the handshake line, I know he meant it when he said, “Good Game”.
I didn’t know the boyhood Rod, and I didn’t know him as a younger man, but over the years, I’ve come to very much appreciate the man I got to know.
As many of you already realize, the Friesen sisters are a force of nature, so I’ve had many opportunities to interact with Rod and his Friesen girl, Karen. Wib and his Friesen girl, Arlene. And Kel and his Friesen girl, Jane, (and now Miss Karen). I’ve come with my Friesen girl, Judy, to Kansas numerous times. They’ve all come out to Spokane as well, or really, they were drawn to Spokane by the lure of Priest Lake. And it seems like every one of our Fric and Frac RV Adventures passed through Manhattan.
Anytime we’re together we eat, play cards, laugh, eat some more, work puzzles, laugh some more, eat leftovers, watch sports, and decide what we we’re going to eat next.
And I’m here to tell you, the Friesen girls can cook, so we enjoy family favorites like semel, kraut runzas, zwiebach, Borscht, and of course, pepper nuts.
In fact, Judy and Rod had an unspoken contest every year to see who could stir up the pepper nut dough first. Rod always won!
And by the way, Rod didn’t cook.
He did do dishes, which endeared him to his HONEY’S heart. And he had to load the dishwasher a certain way. It had to be just so.
Speaking of perfect. Imagine, if you will, young lover boy Rod, convincing Miss Karen to marry him. I can see his self-deprecating grin, and hear his sweet talk. He says, “Hey, Miss Karen, honey, “Will you marry me?” Then we could be together all the time. We wouldn’t have to sneak in after hours anymore. You could transfer to Tabor where I’ve lined up this great job for us. We’ll be Dorm parents to a bunch a frothy college students. We’ll live rent free in a spacious one room dorm room, and best of all, we’ll be legal. Did I mention rent free? All you have to do is say, yes. Karen replies, “You’ll have to ask Abe.” So Rod did, and Abe says, “That’ll be fine. Now you can pay the dental bills.”
Early on Rod and I bonded over sports. And, for a minute, after we first met, we did a little of Who’s the biggest dog on this porch?
We played tennis. I learned that Rod was quick, clever, and competitive. Most of all, I remember the joy of his chuckle after he’d hit a good shot. He reminded me of Barney Rubble. Some of you might remember Barney Rubble from the Flintstone’s. Barney was Fred Flintstone’s faithful friend. Where Fred was flamboyant, eager to try any get rich scheme that came along, Barney was sensible and practical.
Rod was like Barney: sensible and practical.
He was like the Barney Rubble character in other ways:
Rod was…
…child like in his joy,
…noble in his pursuits,
…judicious in his choices,
…understanding of others,
…big-hearted,
…benevolent to all,
…and, of course, extroverted.
He used these qualities to develop a successful career as a salesman. Rod could sell anything, and boy was he thrifty. I can see him snipping coupons from the Sunday paper faster than a hog eats corn. He always knew where the cheapest gas was, and he ate quite a few buy one get one free lunches.
I used to think it was a little silly to spend a dollar to save a penny, but I had to get off my high horse after I used a couple of Rod’s coupons to save money on oil changes.
I know, too, that thrifty Rod is pleased that his Honey is secure. They sold the Thackery house. They had quality time when the “kids” helped them to move into the “cocoon”. And Rod got to enjoy a few priceless sun sets in the new digs. I know all of that pleases him.
Rod reminded me of our late Father-in-Law, Abe K Friesen. The thing I most appreciated about Abe was his quiet strength, his undying devotion, and his positive assurance of God’s goodness and love. He didn’t brag about it. He didn’t wear his belief on his sleeve. Instead, he served his family, his conviction, and his Lord. Rod fit that mold. He was a helper whether lending a hand at church, or handing out food to the needy, or sorting shoes, belts, and purses at the MCC center in Newton every Wednesday.. Simply put, both were men of service.
Rod was also a man of passion. He parlayed his spirit of service, his sense of thrift, and his love of sports into coaching, refereeing, tournament organizing, running the time clock at K-State basketball games, running the thirty second clock for the Big-!2 football games. He just loved sports. Most of all, he had a passion for watching his kids and grand kids play their sports. It didn’t matter if they were kicking, tumbling, diving, dribbling, swinging, or sliding, he just beamed like a papa should. And like all papas: he was proud. Proud of the people they are.
Some religious traditions suggest that we contemplate death for a moment every day for the purpose of realizing that life and death are dots on the same circle.
That this brief look at death is the only thing capable of changing our perspective.
And that this new perspective guides us in living a more Christ like life.
I think that when God judged the life of Rod Franz,
He simply said, “Yabba, Dabba, Doo.”
Looks like one of the good ones.
