Francis N. Donnelly

Francis Norphlett Donnelly, 87, of Clive, Iowa, formerly of Fort Dodge, passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Scottish Rite Park in Des Moines. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Corpus Christi Church with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. Burial will be in Corpus Christi Cemetery. A visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Francis " Frank" Donnelly was born on April 26, 1930 in Fort Dodge to Joseph and Flora Donnelly. Frank graduated from Corpus Christi High School in Fort Dodge in 1949 and the University of Iowa in 1956 with a degree in communications. Frank worked in radio broadcasting his entire life. For 19 years he was employed as an advertising sales representative with KVFD Radio in Fort Dodge. In 1975, Frank founded KTLB-FM Radio at Twin Lakes, and operated this family-owned business until his retirement in 1994. Frank enjoyed golf, lake life, farm management, and had a passion for the business world. Frank married Carol Ann Banwell in 1955 in Fort Dodge at Corpus Christi Church. Frank and Carol had six children. After Carol's death in 1989, Frank met Patty Downard Speer and they married in 1994. They relocated to Clive in 2005. In retirement, Frank and Patty split their time between Clive and Naples, Florida. Frank is survived by his wife, Patty Donnelly, his six children, Craig (Kathleen) Donnelly of Hampton, Mark Donnelly of Iowa City, Scott Donnelly of Hanahan, South Carolina, Paul (Lisa) Donnelly of West Des Moines, Leigh Ann Donnelly of Overland Park, Kansas, Kelli (Jim) Carney of Dubuque, 2 step-children Stephanie (Michael) Schermerhorn of Waukee, Rob Speer of Des Moines, 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Frank is also survived by his brother, Jim Donnelly of Fort Dodge. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Flora (Norphlett) Donnelly, his first wife, Carol Banwell Donnelly, brother, Joseph Donnelly, stepsister, Evelyn Davis and sister-in-law, Frances Donnelly. The Donnelly family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the caring and compassionate staff of Scottish Rite Park and Suncrest Hospice, both of Des Moines for their excellent care of Frank and his family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to Scottish Rite Park of Des Moines, Iowa, and Suncrest Hospice of Des Moines, Iowa