Joseph Francis

Joseph A. Francis, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born Dec. 22, 1918, in St. Louis, the son of Joseph A. Francis Sr. and Anna Seper Francis. He married Lela Marie Gammon on July 29, 1940, at Cape Girardeau. She survives.

He moved to Cape Girardeau in 1937. He was a Central High School graduate and attended Southeast Missouri State University. He was in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, serving from November 1942 to November 1945.

He was part owner of Central Foods Inc., a wholesale meat packing business.

He was a former member and served as president of the national Exchange Club. He was chosen as outstanding district director of the Missouri-Iowa Chapter and had received the Key Man Award for outstanding service to the Exchange Club.

He was a former member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, serving on the agriculture committee. He was a volunteer at St. Francis Medical Center for more than 24 years and was named auxiliary of the year in 1990. He was a member of the Horseshoe Bend Fishing Club and LaCroix United Methodist Church.

He also is survived by a son, Kirk Francis and his wife Tammy of St. Louis; a daughter, Diana Jo Thompson and her husband Tyrone of Cape Girardeau; a granddaughter, Amanda Francis of St. Louis; and a grandson, Jason Andrew Thompson of Houston, Texas.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Ron Watts officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation or the charity of one's choice.