Lola Ann Franek, 77, of Glasco, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 30th, 2020, in Beloit, Kansas.
Lola was born March 13, 1943, in Greybull, Wyoming to Elsie (Plummer) Stryker and Wayne Kaufman.
Lola dropped out of high school at the age of 16, only to return later and obtain her GED. Lola married the love of her life, the late Thomas Franek on September 13, 1969. Lola, who loved children, drove a school bus for the Poudre School District, in Fort Collins, Colorado for several years, then returned to school in 1980 to obtain a Licensed Practical Nursing Degree and then her Registered Nursing License, all while being a working mother of six school aged children. During her long-devoted career as a Licensed Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse, Lola worked for Dr. James D. Hites at his family practice in Fort Collins, Colorado until his retirement. Lola then began working as a traveling Director of Nursing for Long Term Care Centers throughout Colorado and Kansas for several years before transitioning back to acute care and emergency room care in Colorado. Upon her husband's retirement, they relocated to Larned, Kansas, and she began working at the now closed Central Kansas Medical Center. They later moved to Glasco, Kansas, and she began working at Salina Regional Medical Center as an ER nurse. During her devoted nursing career, Lola influenced and touched many lives earning her the nickname "Betty Band aide", which her family and friends lovingly referred to her as. In the final years of her career, Lola was an instructor at North Central Kansas Technical College, Beloit, Kansas in the LPN program helping mold new confident nurses while also teaching CNA classes in the surrounding area before retiring in 2018.
Survivors include children, Lyle Franek of Anchorage, Alaska, Kandi Smith of Loveland, Colorado, Dale (Pam) Franek of Fort Collins, Colorado, Kristi (David) Fordham of Glasco, Kansas, Thomas M. (Lori) Franek II of Beloit, Kansas, and Dusten (Kelly) Crichton of Omaha, Nebraska; siblings, Freida Augustine of Cawker City, Kansas; as well as 14 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Thomas Franek of 44 years; sister, Elizabeth Cunningham; brother, Loren Kaufman; daughter, Kethilynne Innis.
Cremation has been chosen and no funeral services are planned, however a celebration of life event will be held Saturday, November 7th at 3 pm at the Zion Lutheran Church, 621 N. Mill St, Beloit, Kansas.
Lola dedicated most of her life to nursing and teaching. Her family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to, in Lola's honor, to NCK Tech, 3033 US HWY 24, Beloit, Kansas 67420, to perpetuate her memory and support the nursing program.