F.M. Jorgensen

Francis "Bud" Jorgensen, 87, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Bud was born November 9, 1928, the son of George and Hilda (Mailander) Jorgensen, at home in Wiota, Iowa. He attended Wiota community schools and graduated from Wiota High School in 1946. Bud served in the United States Army for 20 months of active duty in Italy after World War II. He returned home and attended Iowa State University for two years. He was united in marriage to Joanna Lee Hart on November 23, 1949, in Wiota. Bud then transferred to Drake University for the final two years graduating in May of 1952.

After graduation from college, Bud became a science teacher and coached boys and girls basketball at Linden High School and Wiota High School. With a growing family, Bud decided to leave teaching and move to Atlantic where he pursued a sales career. He remained in sales until his retirement.

Bud loved sports and was a very skilled and competitive athlete. While at Wiota High School, he played on a state championship baseball team, and participated in the boys state basketball tournament two times. He also played baseball and basketball at both Iowa State University and Drake University. Bud played semi-pro baseball for several teams in southwest Iowa until his late twenties.

He greatly enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play on their respective teams. He was also an avid and passionate golfer, being a member of the Nishna Hills Golf Club for over 50 years.
Bud was a quiet, private, and loyal person. He maintained a number of close relationships with his Wiota friends, golfing partners, and other members of St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. His word was good and he will be remembered by the many people who received small tokens of his kindness.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joanna Jorgensen; his grandchildren, Adam Gangestad and Anna (Gangestad) Oberhauser; his parents, George and Hilda Jorgensen; and his sister, Mildred Davidson.

Bud is survived by his children: Mary (Bruce) Gangestad of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Michelle (Dennis) Green of Brighton, Iowa, John (Karen) Jorgensen of Batavia, IL, Jim (Brenda) Jorgensen of Norwalk, IA, Joe (Stacy) Jorgensen of Blue Springs, MO and Molly Chess of Atlantic, IA; 17 grandchildren; 9 1/2 great-grandchildren; his sister, Juaquetta Barclay of West Des Moines, IA; his dear friend, Myrna Eckles of Atlantic, IA; other relatives and many friends.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 23, 2016, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

A private family interment of ashes will be in the SS Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa.

Visitation and lunch with the family will be held in the church parish hall following the interment.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bud's name to the Atlantic Food Pantry, Inc.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.