Franklin J. Whetsel Obituary (1948 - 2015)

Franklin J. Whetsel, 67, Durand, Illinois died at 3:06 a.m., Sunday, November 22, 2015 in Rockford Memorial Hospital. Born June 18, 1948 in Germany, the son of Willard R. and Henriette J. Whetsel. Graduated from Pecatonica High School and lived most of his life in the Pecatonica and Durand area. He married the former Cindy Shenberger on November 11, 2000 in Pecatonica. Frank was a self-employed painter most of his life. Veteran of the US Army, serving two terms in Viet Nam. You could almost always find Frank sitting down by the dam on the Pecatonica River with a beer and fishing pole in hand. Frank loved camping and was generally the life of the party. There was not a water fight that Frank couldn’t win, whether it be hose, bucket or those blasted water balloons. You never knew what to expect when it came to Frank and water. Frank was always there with a helping hand and never asked for anything in return. He is lovingly survived by his wife, Cindy Whetsel; step sons Michael and Jason; brother Robert (Kathie) Whetsel; sisters Karen (Ron) Orris and Cindy Lester; mother and father-in-law Glenn and Dot Shenberger; several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two nephews and a sister. A celebration of life will be held at the Pecatonica American Legion, 403 Main Street, Pecatonica, Illinois from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., Saturday, December 12, 2015. Military rites will be held at 1:30 p.m. Cremation rites will be accorded. McCorkle Funeral Home-Pecatonica Chapel, 203 W Fifth Street, Pecatonica, Illinois assisted the family.