Caring Partners Spring 2012 - Mayo Clinic Health System

Franciscan Healthcare Foundation
700 West Ave S
La Crosse, WI 54601-4796
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
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Mayo Clinic
Ordinary fellow makes extraordinary gift
Bob Franke’s generosity extends beyond his lifetime
— Bob Franke —
1918-2009
By most accounts, Bob Franke was an
ordinary fellow.
He lived his entire life on La Crosse’s
north side in the house where he grew
up. Though he earned a teaching degree,
Franke yearned to be a railroad engineer
like his father. Following a brief stint in the classroom, he
landed a job with the CB&Q Railroad (now Burlington
Northern), worked hard and achieved his goal.
Franke was single into his 40s. Then he met Eleanor, a
teacher, and the love of his life. They enjoyed four decades
of marriage.
Over time the couple made numerous contributions to
Franciscan Healthcare Foundation and were especially
generous to the chapel, cardiac rehabilitation center and
the spiritual care department. After Eleanor passed away
in 2001, Franke continued his generous support. He spent
his final days at the medical center, rejoining his beloved
Eleanor in 2009.
Following Franke’s death, the Foundation received
notice that he had named the medical center in his will. The
gift was significant — a cash contribution and one-third of
a perpetual trust worth more than $20 million — but its size
wasn’t the only thing that made Franke’s gift extraordinary.
In the United States, only about eight percent of people
name a charity in their will. Franke provided for Franciscan
Healthcare Foundation and other local nonprofits that
were important to him. The medical center is humbled by
Franke’s gift, and thankful that he was one of the 8 people
in 100 who make a charitable bequest.
That statistic aside, Franke, an ordinary fellow, will
always be remembered as one in a million.
For information on charitable bequests, contact Peter
Grabow at (608) 392-9394 or grabow.peter@mayo.edu.
Rest assured any discussion will be held in confidence.
Caring Partners
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Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan
Healthcare Foundation is a 501(c)3
not-for-profit corporation. Gifts to the
Foundation are tax deductible to the full
extent allowed by law.
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