Donald Lee Franek, 59, of Kersey, passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly on December 6, 2023 at NCMC in Greeley. He was born October 25, 1964 in Hugo, CO to John Andrew and Evelyn Gayle (Eaton) Franek where he grew up. Don was very active in all sports as a youth and graduated from Hugo High School in 1983.
He met Vicki Eastin Mekelburg while they were both working at Monfort Transportation in Greeley. They married in 1996 in Greeley.
Don was an over the road owner-operator truck driver for Monfort Transportation driving his ‘Big Smoke’ and ‘Bare Necessities’ trucks many miles coast to coast, primarily the east coast. After leaving Monfort, Don worked independently for a number of years before choosing to sell his equipment for a job that allowed him to be home every night to be more involved in his children’s lives. Don then started his career with Schmeeckle Bros. Construction where he worked in many capacities: crane rigger, crane operator, most recently, Warehouse Manager but mostly as the go-to for anything anyone needed. Don loved sharing his trucking travels with his family, taking his children and nephews on trips with him when they were young. Don coached youth and Middle School football as well as helping with high school football for Platte Valley in Kersey for many years. He loved all sports, especially those his children and grandchildren participated in. Don also enjoyed spending time with his extended family at Empire Lake each summer.
Don had a rough exterior but was a softie on the inside. No one was a stranger to him, he ‘adopted’ all of his children’s friends as his own and became a second ‘papa’ to anyone that would let him. He loved using his tractor to plow snow for the neighborhood, was meticulous about his yard and was a general ‘fixer upper’ of anything in need.
Don was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Those having been blessed to share his life are his wife, Vicki, children; Hilary Law, Tate Mekelburg and fiancé Sarah Kawata and Eastin Franek, three grandchildren; Brooks, Scout and Ainsley Law, his mother, Gayle Franek, siblings; Lou Ellen (Leon) Zarembski , J.D. Franek, Kenny (Mary) Franek, mother-in-law, Irene Eastin, two sisters-in-law; Linda (Steve) Hart and Karen (Gary) Evans, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Franek and father-in-law, Dallas Eastin.
A visitation for Don will be held from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Adamson Life Celebration Home. Don’s Life Celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 14 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with a luncheon to follow. Interment 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Eaton Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to “Kersey Cougars Youth Football” in care of Adamson, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634.
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Family milestones in gold, history for context
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Happy Birthday my brother!
Happy Birthday! It is hard to believe it has been 3 years! I miss our conversations. I just miss you!Take care of our father. “Moving on with your life does not have to mean forgetting.” – Unknown
Happy Birthday, My Love.
Hard to believe today was our third birthday without you. You always made such a big deal out of celebrating everyone’s birthday. 🥰 I started the day watching Brooks score five goals in his hockey game . He has become a darn good player. You would love watching him. After the game your sister and I had brunch and spent some time catching up. This afternoon I gave E a cooking lesson on your Chicken Fries. They weren’t quite up to your standards but I think you would have been proud of us. Ended the night sharing homemade apple pie with all the kids. It was a good day but it would have been better if you were here. Miss you every day. Love you forever. ❤️🩹
250 years
Well little brother it is the 4th of July weekend & still waiting for you know what! It is our country’s 250 year anniversary & Colorado’s 150 anniversary. Trump will be @ Mount Rushmore on July 3rd. There are lots of military flyovers in Washington & lots of fireworks. So Happy Fourth of July! You & father have a beer for me! Miss you!
Happy Father’s Day Brother!
Wishing a you a Happy Father’s Day! I am sure you & our father sitting back drinking a beer.
2026 New Year
Happy New Year brother! Another year gone without you! Let’s hope 2026 brings everything we always talked about! I wish you were here! I miss you & love you! 🥰
Christmas 2025
Spent some quiet time with you this evening after all craziness of the holiday settled down. You loved Christmas so much and made it so fun for everyone. I did better this year….still not up to your standards but I’m doing better. I hope you know how much we love you and miss you down here.
Christmas 2025
As Christmas approaches, it still feels a little blue. Another Christmas without you & Dad. I miss both of you! I am wishing you a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Remembering Don two years later
Took some pretty roses to share with you two years from the day of your service. We all sure do miss you. ❤️🩹
December 2025
Today is 2 years since you have left us. It seems like yesterday you were still with us. I miss you everyday! I have been remembering all your our Christmas gatherings when we were kids & we had lots of great times. These memories are becoming more & more precious. Vicki created a great gift for me with a calendar & lots of pictures of you & great memories. Miss you brother & love you!🥰 💕❤️😍
Lights of Hope
I just got home from the Lights of Hope ceremony hosted by the Community Grief Center. It is such a meaningful service. I lit luminaries for you and Steve….sure do miss you both. It was especially touching to have the ceremony today - two years said we had to say goodbye. I miss you every day. ❤️🩹
Feeling Blue
It has been 2 years today since you have passed to the lord. It just feels like yesterday we were having our usual conversation on many subjects. I really miss those times. You and father need to watch over JD. I miss you brother!🥲❤️🥰
Thanksgiving 2025
One of my favorite memories is from Thanksgiving day two years ago. There was truly nothing spectacular that happened on that day but it was the very best Thanksgiving that I can remember. We were are my sister’s house and just about everyone was there. It was exactly what Thanksgiving was supposed to be - a celebration of the people and things we love. It was relaxed, there was a lot of laughter and no one seemed to be in a hurry to leave that day. I remember Don smoked the most incredible ham on his Traeger. My pies that ended out perfectly. I recall Don teasing Kaylee and Alexa mercilessly….like he used to do to their mom. My kids were all there. My sisters were there. Nieces and nephews wee there. My mom was there. It was perfect. Two days later we took do. To the ED and he never came home. My heart will be forever broken. And then. a short time later, we lost my brother o. Law as well. I am sure they are having a great time together in Heaven with my dad but we sure miss them down here. And some days I just think back to the perfect Thanksgiving day and smile. 🥰
Happy Thanksgiving brother!
As I am sitting here & thinking about you because Thanksgiving is approaching this next week in 2025. Another Thanksgiving without you here but you are in our thoughts & hearts. Mom is here spending the holiday with us. She came to see Evelyn Rose Major. Mom is making her cranberry salsa & of course pumpkin pie. I really struggle at this time in November until we put you in the ground. I really miss our conversations we had & cherish those moments. I am sure you & Dad are celebrating Thanksgiving with many people. I went to see Brooks play hockey last week & he scored 5 goals. He played a really good game & was a scoring machine. It was awesome! Well brother I love you! ❤️💕 & miss you 😢! Have a great heavenly Thanksgiving with our heavenly father, family & friends! 🦃
Happy Birthday Brother
Today is your 61st birthday! Man you are getting old! Ha!Ha! It seems like yesterday when we were talking about the world events! I miss you! Happy Heavenly Birthday 🎂!💕🥰❤️🥳
Time Marches On
October 15… If you were still on this side of heaven, you would have called Hilary bright and early to sing happy birthday to her. Even though she didn’t get that typical birthday message, we still got a pretty special birthday gift… Little Evelyn Rose Major was born today as well. 💞
New Home
Yesterday we brought a piece of you home. Your mower that you were working on to restore has a new home. I know you were there every step of the way. I made a video with Zach driving it. Even though the parts were a challenge to find they found there way to us. Thanks brother! I love you! Miss you!🥰
Father’s Day
Today, marks our second Father’s Day without you here with us. If you were here, I know you would be smoking something on the Traeger; you and E arguing about who can do it better. I’m sure we would have a houseful tonight and we would all be sitting out enjoying your patio in the backyard with the grandkids making s’mores. Instead, Tate and E came over this morning and we planted a crabapple tree in your memory. I hope it grows as beautifully as the red maple has. All weekend as I worked in the yard, a big, fat Robin sat watching every move. I know it was you. I love you. I miss you always.
Home
Yesterday I went to Maxine Lengel’s celebration. I saw many of our friends. We talked about you & shed many tears but they were happy tears. Everyone is still grieving your loss! I feel by talking to them about you helped them & also helped me. Maxine’s celebration was beautiful. Sue did a great tribute to her Mom. She always had a way with words. Our house in Hugo looks good! The tree that Mom & Dad planted is beautiful. Well brother I am sure now that Maxine is with you that you will help take care of her. I stopped and visited our father & put some new flowers on his grave. Miss you & him! Love you both! 🌸🌹🥰❤️😘
Reminiscing
I am sitting here just thinking about you. I look at my pictures of you & still have to pinch myself that you are gone physically but I know you are in my heart ♥️. I miss your grin & laugh!
Missing You
Well brother here we are still waiting for stuff to happen. I wish you were here to see it physically but I know you are here spiritually. There is not a day that I don’t think about you! I can hear talking to me & it puts a smile on my face. I love you brother! Missing you! “Grief carves its own path, but in the depths of sorrow, remember that your sibling’s light shines on, illuminating the way forward.” – Haruki Murakami “The death of a sibling in adulthood is a harsh reminder to seize every moment and express love without hesitation. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.” – Tara Westover
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