Oct. 10, 1920 — April 29, 2018
ALGONA — Funeral Mass for Francis Platt will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at St. Cecelia Catholic Church with the Rev. Edward Girres officiating. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery with military honors provided by VFW Post #2541 and American Legion Hagg-Turner Post #90. Visitation will be Saturday one hour prior to services at the church.
Francis Wenzel Platt was born Oct. 10, 1920, in Sykeston, N.D., the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Marking) Platt. He attended school in North Dakota before the family moved to Algona where he attended St. Cecelia’s Academy, graduating in 1939. He began working for John McGuire before entering the military. Francis served in the United States Navy for three years before being honorably discharged and returning to Algona.
On May 27, 1944, Francis married Maxine Lindhorst at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Great Lakes, Ill. They later moved to Ontario, Calif., where Francis worked for Lockheed Aircraft Services inspecting aircraft after maintenance and working on the SR-71 Blackbird in part of the Skunk Works Division. He retired in March of 1983 and they later moved to Minnesota, where they lived for 10 years before moving back to Algona in 1993.
Francis enjoyed flying, riding his motorcycle, camping, fishing, bird watching, and flowers. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, International Society of Machinist, the American Motorcycle Association and Ham Radio Club of Algona.
Francis died Sunday, April 29, 2018, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona. He was 97.
Survivors include his wife of 73 years, Maxine of Algona; daughter, Sandra (Kenneth) Del Rosso of Algona; son, Randall (May) Platt of Stanley, N.C.; grandchildren, Cynthia (George) Fueste; Michael Brandon (Jessica) Platt; Paul Francis Platt and a great-granddaughter, Olivia Fueste; siblings, Michael Platt of Mankato, Minn.; Mary Rich of West Des Moines; Rose and Jim Sprout of Algona; Sister Mary Hermann Platt of Dubuque and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Martha Lee; brothers, Matt, Leo, Clement and Herman Platt.
Arrangements are being handled by Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona. Condolences may be left at www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.