Graveside Memorial Service: Saturday, March 10th at 11:00 am at Big Timber Cemetery, rural Jennings, Kansas, with Kent Morgan officiating

Military Rites: Oberlin American Legion Post #70.

Memorial Fund: Decatur County Food Pantry (contributions may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749)

In Loving Memory
Lee Edward Franklin passed away March 4, 2018, at the age of 72. He was born October 6, 1945, in Oberlin, Kansas, to Leo H. Franklin (1913-2001) and Charlotte J. (Cilek) Franklin (1916-1988).

Lee spent his youth on the family farm northwest of Jennings and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1963. He attended Kansas State University and Fort Hays State University. Lee joined the US Air Force where he rose to the rank of Captain during the Vietnam War. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action. Lee was a proud veteran who loved his country and understood through real experience that freedom isn’t free.

After leaving the Air Force, he completed his university studies then worked in the securities and exchange business for many years in Colorado before retiring to the family farm near Jennings. In his retirement, Lee spent countless hours promoting economic development in rural counties. He was also an accomplished chef and barbeque pro, well known for his special Memorial Day gatherings.

In December 1968, Lee married Ardis Marie Crouse in Haigler, Nebraska. They later divorced.

Lee is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Christian and Kristen Franklin of Hopkinton, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Ryan and Kate Franklin; sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Allen Hooper of Oberlin; two nieces; and many cousins. His parents preceded him in death. Because of his mother’s blood connection to the original Decatur County pioneer families of Cilek, Rohan, Heiman, Tacha, Hess, and Petracek, Lee is related to hundreds of people in the area. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.