Franklin “Frank” Dutcher Jr.
Franklin “Frank” DeWayne Dutcher Jr, age 78, of rural St. Cloud (Town of Forest), passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at SSM St. Agnes Hospital following a lengthy battle with cancer.
He was born February 13, 1947, in Black River Falls, WI to the late Franklin Sr. “DeWayne” & Muriel (Kuntz) Dutcher. He graduated from Tomah High School in 1965 and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 1, 1965, serving until July 1, 1969. His service took him all across the country in addition to a six-month deployment to South Korea.
He then attended UW-Platteville where he met Beverly Klar who he married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Platteville on July 3, 1971.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Frank’s career as a controls engineer took him from Giddings & Lewis in Fond du Lac, Stoelting in Kiel, Gates Rubber Co. in Moncks Corner, SC, Charter Steel in Saukville, and ultimately to Eaton Corporation (Cooper Power) in Pewaukee from which he retired. During his career, he never stopped his pursuit of education, in time receiving his master’s degree from UW-Platteville.
In his free time, Frank enjoyed reading science fiction novels, deer hunting, following the Green Bay Packers, and tinkering with a wide variety of ever-changing projects.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Beverly; his five children, Franklin Dutcher III, Timothy Dutcher, Michael Dutcher, Benjamin Dutcher, and Mary (Chris) Knapp; his grandson, Joseph Knapp; his brothers & sisters, John Dutcher, Steven (Gina) Dutcher, Kathleen (Dan) Fischbach, and Brian Dutcher; his brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Karl Klar, Eugene (Marie) Klar, Marita Simpson, Kathleen Kluth, Tye Schwalbe, and Gloria Dutcher. He is further survived by nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Franklin Sr. “DeWayne” & Muriel Dutcher; his sister, Sandra Schwalbe; two brothers, James Dutcher and Charles Dutcher; a sister-in-law, Annette Dutcher; two brothers-in-law, Phil Simpson and Greg “Rocky” Kluth; his father-in-law & mother-in-law, Aloysius & Catherine Klar; and miscarried babies, Emma, Elizabeth, and Nathaniel.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Rev. Paul Koenig, OFM Cap of Our Lady of the Holyland Parish for his Pastoral Care and to Fr. Ryan of Holy Family Catholic Church who administered last rites to Frank.
A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Our Lady of the Holyland Parish-Holy Cross Site, 308 S. County Road W, Mount Calvary, WI 53057. Rev. Paul Koenig, OFM Cap will officiate. Frank will be laid to rest in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in the Town of Marshfield north of St. Cloud. Military Honors will be conducted at the cemetery.
Visitation: Family and friends may visit with Frank’s family at the church in Mount Calvary on Tuesday, April 15th from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM.
For further information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud (920) 999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.