Franklin Delano Heskett died Thursday, May 14, 2015, at Colorado State Veterans Home in Rifle, Colorado.

He was born to Ray and Martha (Jensen) Heskett on Oct. 20, 1936, in Albert Lea. He served in the U.S. Air Force and particularly enjoyed his time in Okinawa, Japan.

He met and married Mary Lou Vickerman and together they had three children. Frank was a hard worker. He enjoyed his work as a welder fabricator, working for just two or three companies over 40 some years, rarely missing a day of work. His was a fixer, collector, builder, bowler, tinkerer, talker and joker. He enjoyed camping and helping others.

Frank is survived by his son, Todd (Hilary) Heskett, and their children Callum and Collette; Dawn (Heskett) Knaus and her children Jill, Benjamin and Forrest (Megan) Knaus; sisters Elaine Manges, Eldora Johnson and Evelyn Nielson; sister-in-law, Doris Heskett; along with many nieces and nephews.

Frank is preceded in death by his young son, Michael; his first wife, Mary Lou (Vickerman) Heskett; his parents; his sisters Elsie (Harold) Egge and Ellen (Dale) Johnson; brothers Marvin (Mable) Heskett and Cecil Heskett; brothers-in-law Henry Manges and Norman Johnson; and nephew, Raymond Manges.

Frank married Darlene Svoma in 1999 and they lived together in Appleton, Wisconsin, until her death in December 2013. A note of special appreciation to Jim (Vicky) Manges and Betsy (Tom) Austin for their support and help after Darlene’s death; they meant a great deal to Frank.

A memorial service with full military honors will be at 10 a.m. Saturday near the WestWood entrance of Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea, and will be followed by a lunch for family and friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pioneer Park pavilion. Those wishing to contact the family can email Todd Heskett at todd.heskett@gmail.com or Dawn Knaus at dknausrn@yahoo.com.