Obituary of Frank Joenks

Frank Willard Joenks, 78, of Wahpeton, Iowa, died Aug. 22, 2015, at his home. He was born Sep. 25, 1936, in Laurens, Iowa, the son of Harold and Blanche Johnson Joenks. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rita Rae Thorne Joenks, to whom he was married Oct. 13, 1962, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley, Iowa. Joenks has served as the mayor of Wahpeton for many years. He was a member Milford (Iowa) Kiwanis, for which he served as past president, and Union Memorial Church in Milford, where he served on many committees. Joenks was an educator, most recently supervising teacher interns for Iowa State University. He served as an assistant principal at Spencer (Iowa) High School for many years and taught at Iowa Lakes Community College in Spencer. He served as principal of Southwest Junior High in Springdale, Arkansas, and of Springdale High School, where his son now serves as principal. He graduated from Albert City (Iowa) High School, Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He is survived by his son Pete Joenks and wife Laurinda of Springdale, Ark.; a special friend, Donna Brechler of Milford, Iowa; two sisters, Myrna Ferguson and husband Harlan of Johnston, Iowa, and Lois Grave and husband Gary of Sauk Centre, Minn.; one brother, John Joenks and wife Karol of Knoxville, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews, Curtis Ferguson and wife Lori of Ankeny, Iowa; Candace Smith and husband Carroll of Broomfield, Colo.; Colleen Eyre and husband Frank of Cedaredge, Colo.; Shawn Grave and wife Julie of Buffalo, Minn.; Scott Grave of Northfield, Minn.; Matthew Grave and wife Lisa of Redwood Falls, Minn.; Kevin Wadle and wife Jennifer of Knoxville, Iowa; and Kathy Clingman and husband Chris of Knoxville; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and one great-great niece. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Union Memorial Church in Milford. Interment will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Honorary pallbearers are John Joenks; Nyle Dotson of Spencer, Iowa; Curtis Ferguson; Shawn Grave; Kevin Wadle; Jay Chapman of Milford, Jack Jones of Wahpeton, Larry Metge of Wahpeton; and Jim Rohlfsen of West Okoboji, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Milford Kiwanis Youth Foundation or the Springdale Public Schools Education Foundation, P.O. Box 24, Springdale, AR, 72765.