Virginia (Ginna) Mollan Franke passed away peacefully on June 5, 2023 at her assisted living home in Austin, Texas, surrounded by her loving family. Ginna was born on May 9, 1925 in Hibbing, Minnesota to Emil and Amanda Mollan.
Ginna met the love of her life, Merle Franke, when he took a part-time job as her church choir director in Minneapolis while attending seminary. He took notice right away of the beautiful blonde with the lovely alto voice, which sparked a romance that culminated in their wedding in May 1947. Soon after they married, they moved from Minneapolis to the US Virgin Islands for Merle's first call in the ministry. Island life appealed to the young couple, and three of their five children were born there. In 1954, Merle's work took the family back to Minnesota and Illinois for several years before bringing them to Austin in 1964. Merle served for 20 years as pastor of First English Lutheran Church and Ginna played an active role in the church community, sang in the church choir, and was instrumental in launching the Child Development Center.
Ginna and Merle enjoyed 72 years of marriage together, with Ginna expertly navigating her various roles as pastor's wife extraordinaire, mother to five kids, chief homemaker, family finance director, and active volunteer. Her love for her family was evident in the frequent family gatherings she organized to celebrate birthdays, baptisms, graduations and holidays. She and Merle loved to travel, visit relatives far and wide, and spend time in the great outdoors.
Ginna's faith guided her throughout her life, and went beyond what she believed in her mind, felt in her heart, or said in her words. She lived that faith in how she cared for the earth, stood up for peace and justice, and treated all people with kindness and consideration. She was an active member of Church Women United. She marched for peace at the state capitol. She provided disaster relief in the US Virgin Islands. Her passion and concern for the environment was fundamental to her being.
Ginna met the love of her life, Merle Franke, when he took a part-time job as her church choir director in Minneapolis while attending seminary. He took notice right away of the beautiful blonde with the lovely alto voice, which sparked a romance that culminated in their wedding in May 1947. Soon after they married, they moved from Minneapolis to the US Virgin Islands for Merle's first call in the ministry. Island life appealed to the young couple, and three of their five children were born there. In 1954, Merle's work took the family back to Minnesota and Illinois for several years before bringing them to Austin in 1964. Merle served for 20 years as pastor of First English Lutheran Church and Ginna played an active role in the church community, sang in the church choir, and was instrumental in launching the Child Development Center.
Ginna and Merle enjoyed 72 years of marriage together, with Ginna expertly navigating her various roles as pastor's wife extraordinaire, mother to five kids, chief homemaker, family finance director, and active volunteer. Her love for her family was evident in the frequent family gatherings she organized to celebrate birthdays, baptisms, graduations and holidays. She and Merle loved to travel, visit relatives far and wide, and spend time in the great outdoors.
Ginna's faith guided her throughout her life, and went beyond what she believed in her mind, felt in her heart, or said in her words. She lived that faith in how she cared for the earth, stood up for peace and justice, and treated all people with kindness and consideration. She was an active member of Church Women United. She marched for peace at the state capitol. She provided disaster relief in the US Virgin Islands. Her passion and concern for the environment was fundamental to her being.
Virginia (Ginna) Mollan Franke passed away peacefully on June 5, 2023 at her assisted living home in Austin, Texas, surrounded by her loving family. Ginna was born on May 9, 1925 in Hibbing, Minnesota to Emil and Amanda Mollan.
Ginna met the love of her life, Merle Franke, when he took a part-time job as her church choir director in Minneapolis while attending seminary. He took notice right away of the beautiful blonde with the lovely alto voice, which sparked a romance that culminated in their wedding in May 1947. Soon after they married, they moved from Minneapolis to the US Virgin Islands for Merle's first call in the ministry. Island life appealed to the young couple, and three of their five children were born there. In 1954, Merle's work took the family back to Minnesota and Illinois for several years before bringing them to Austin in 1964. Merle served for 20 years as pastor of First English Lutheran Church and Ginna played an active role in the church community, sang in the church choir, and was instrumental in launching the Child Development Center.
Ginna and Merle enjoyed 72 years of marriage together, with Ginna expertly navigating her various roles as pastor's wife extraordinaire, mother to five kids, chief homemaker, family finance director, and active volunteer. Her love for her family was evident in the frequent family gatherings she organized to celebrate birthdays, baptisms, graduations and holidays. She and Merle loved to travel, visit relatives far and wide, and spend time in the great outdoors.
Ginna's faith guided her throughout her life, and went beyond what she believed in her mind, felt in her heart, or said in her words. She lived that faith in how she cared for the earth, stood up for peace and justice, and treated all people with kindness and consideration. She was an active member of Church Women United. She marched for peace at the state capitol. She provided disaster relief in the US Virgin Islands. Her passion and concern for the environment was fundamental to her being.
Ginna met the love of her life, Merle Franke, when he took a part-time job as her church choir director in Minneapolis while attending seminary. He took notice right away of the beautiful blonde with the lovely alto voice, which sparked a romance that culminated in their wedding in May 1947. Soon after they married, they moved from Minneapolis to the US Virgin Islands for Merle's first call in the ministry. Island life appealed to the young couple, and three of their five children were born there. In 1954, Merle's work took the family back to Minnesota and Illinois for several years before bringing them to Austin in 1964. Merle served for 20 years as pastor of First English Lutheran Church and Ginna played an active role in the church community, sang in the church choir, and was instrumental in launching the Child Development Center.
Ginna and Merle enjoyed 72 years of marriage together, with Ginna expertly navigating her various roles as pastor's wife extraordinaire, mother to five kids, chief homemaker, family finance director, and active volunteer. Her love for her family was evident in the frequent family gatherings she organized to celebrate birthdays, baptisms, graduations and holidays. She and Merle loved to travel, visit relatives far and wide, and spend time in the great outdoors.
Ginna's faith guided her throughout her life, and went beyond what she believed in her mind, felt in her heart, or said in her words. She lived that faith in how she cared for the earth, stood up for peace and justice, and treated all people with kindness and consideration. She was an active member of Church Women United. She marched for peace at the state capitol. She provided disaster relief in the US Virgin Islands. Her passion and concern for the environment was fundamental to her being.
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