Frances Joan Langham
June 16, 1937 — February 13, 2024
Frances Joan (Kovarik) Langham, 86, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loved ones. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, where the family will greet friends one hour before the service. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Elma, Iowa. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family with arrangements.
Frances was born on June 16, 1937, just north of Lourdes in Howard County, Iowa, to James and Katherine (Falada) Kovarik. She was baptized at Our Lady of Lourdes on June 27, 1937, and her sponsors were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chihak. She received her first communion on May 19, 1946. Her confirmation sponsor was Mrs. Ptacek. Frances attended grade school at Paris #9, then attended school in Lourdes and graduated in 1955 from Cresco High School. Frances married the love of her life, Raymond Langham, on September 24, 1959. They lived in Waterloo for a time, then moved to Marion, where she lived for 59 years.
As a young girl, she was involved in 4-H and won a ribbon for her sewing project at the county fair. Frances was known for having great penmanship and excelled in spelling. She worked for Wilson Foods and Aegon for many years, until her retirement in 2006. After retirement, she enjoyed taking the bus to the casino and celebrating birthdays with her friends. When her husband’s health declined, she was his primary caregiver. Her faith was very important to her, and she truly lived her marriage vows. Frances was involved in her church and was known for her potato salad at funerals. She enjoyed baking, gardening, and companionship with her lifelong friends.
Frances is survived by her children, Melanie (Randy) Long and Michael Langham (Cynthia Barber); grandchildren, Allison (Justin) Adams, Eric Long, Stephen Long (Kristie Wilson), Taylor Langham, and Hayden Langham; great-grandchildren, Levi, Evan, Alex, and Anna Adams, and Laila Long; brother, Ed Kovarik; and special cousin, Diane Kovarik (fiancé, Roger Craft).
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Raymond; and brother, James Kovarik.
Memorials in Frances’s memory may be directed to the family in care of her brother, Ed Kovarik.
Frances was born on June 16, 1937, just north of Lourdes in Howard County, Iowa, to James and Katherine (Falada) Kovarik. She was baptized at Our Lady of Lourdes on June 27, 1937, and her sponsors were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chihak. She received her first communion on May 19, 1946. Her confirmation sponsor was Mrs. Ptacek. Frances attended grade school at Paris #9, then attended school in Lourdes and graduated in 1955 from Cresco High School. Frances married the love of her life, Raymond Langham, on September 24, 1959. They lived in Waterloo for a time, then moved to Marion, where she lived for 59 years.
As a young girl, she was involved in 4-H and won a ribbon for her sewing project at the county fair. Frances was known for having great penmanship and excelled in spelling. She worked for Wilson Foods and Aegon for many years, until her retirement in 2006. After retirement, she enjoyed taking the bus to the casino and celebrating birthdays with her friends. When her husband’s health declined, she was his primary caregiver. Her faith was very important to her, and she truly lived her marriage vows. Frances was involved in her church and was known for her potato salad at funerals. She enjoyed baking, gardening, and companionship with her lifelong friends.
Frances is survived by her children, Melanie (Randy) Long and Michael Langham (Cynthia Barber); grandchildren, Allison (Justin) Adams, Eric Long, Stephen Long (Kristie Wilson), Taylor Langham, and Hayden Langham; great-grandchildren, Levi, Evan, Alex, and Anna Adams, and Laila Long; brother, Ed Kovarik; and special cousin, Diane Kovarik (fiancé, Roger Craft).
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Raymond; and brother, James Kovarik.
Memorials in Frances’s memory may be directed to the family in care of her brother, Ed Kovarik.
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