Francis M. Valitchka, "Fran," passed away peacefully on October 12, 2024, at age 79. Fran was born on October 24, 1944, to his parents Marie and Roy Valitchka in Two Rivers, WI. He was a Class of 1962 graduate of Lincoln High School in Manitowoc and attended Stout State University. There, he graduated in 1967 with a degree in Technical Writing, and afterwards joined the Air Force, serving until 1970.

Fran married Peggy Thurnau on a Monday in August, 1967, in Owatonna, MN. They went on to live in Manitowoc where they raised their children Mary, Amy, Brian, and Missy.

Fran was a longtime employee of Manitowoc Company and later retired from Weather Shield in Medford, WI. In his retirement he returned to the Manitowoc area and was a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Working his way through college with the Chicago Northwestern Railroad initiated a lifelong interest in trains. His joys in life were woodworking, photography, traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors. His happiest times were spent with his family – especially his 9 grandchildren.

Fran is survived by his wife of 57 years, Peggy; his children Mary (Tim) Carey, Amy (George) Gibson, Brian (Brenda) Valitchka, and Melissa (Dennis) Dohms; his grandchildren Luke, Grace, and Rosalind Carey, Henry, Eleanor, and Amanda Gibson, Kate and Michael Valitchka, and Alexis Dohms; siblings Ann Marie Wixom, Roy (Lucy), Joe (Sue), Tom (Margaret), and Phil (Christine) Valitchka; sister-in-law Kay (Ron Zahn) VonRuden; and brother-in-law Gary (Shireen) Thurnau. He was preceded in death by son-in-law Denny (Dennis) Dohms, his parents, mother-in-law Lois Thurnau, and his brother-in-law Dallas Wixom.

Visitation will be held at Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, 628 N. Water St., Manitowoc, WI, on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. until time of Memorial Service at 12:00 noon. Military honors will be held following the service. A luncheon will take place at Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center located to the south of the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Fran's name are appreciated to Manitowoc County Habitat for Humanity ( https://www.manitowochabitat.org/donate ).