Mernhard “Leigh” Franzen
January 30, 1932- April 04, 2021
Leigh passed away peacefully in Gilbert, Arizona on April 4, 2021. He was 89 years old.
Leigh was born on January 30, 1932 in Gothenburg, Nebraska. His parents were Mernhard George Franzen and Helen Christina Scott.
His childhood was spent with family working on the farm. After being honorably released from the Army in 1954, Leigh became a truck driver. Thereafter, he began his career at Albertsons in Colorado Springs, Colorado as a Produce Manager. Leigh was recognized quickly and became the Store Manager of a new store in New Mexico where he started breaking company records in sales and was soon transferred back to Denver as the Rocky Mountain Regional Produce Supervisor. He was known as “Lucky Franzen” as he had the midas touch for whatever he put his hand to. His smile, laugh, wisdom, and courage opened doors for him where no one else had gone before. His guidance and counsel was pivotal during these critical years of company growth. He worked 29 years with Albertsons before retirement. In 1979, Leigh married the love of his life, Anne (Wedjen) Custer who preceded his death in April of 2020. They shared an undeniable love for each other and demonstrated a marriage that many can only dream of. Every Friday night was a date out to their favorite ice cream parlor and every winter was an opportunity to move to a warmer climate in which they both sought after. They were happily married for 41 years and enjoyed many of their years with their lap dogs and McDonald’s coffee crew.
Leigh has five children, namely: Douglas W. Franzen, Gary Leigh Franzen, Thomas Scott Franzen, Janet Leigh Franzen and Deborah Alice Franzen. Four step-children: Patricia Anne Booth, John Michael Custer, Karen Lee Howard (Bill Howard), and Steven Joseph Custer. His grandchildren include: Gene Michael Freeman (Tiffany Freeman), Eli Alexander Jenkins, Amber Anne McLain, Caitlin Hannah Morris (Robert Morris), and Alyssa Nicole Howard. Great Grandchildren include: Wesley Michael Freeman, Tiana Denise Freeman and Anoura Leigh Keen.
Leigh had a love for golf and his golf cart, which you would be lucky to get behind the wheel of. If it were going to be a nice day on the lake, Leigh would be out on the water at six a.m. until he caught something to bring home for dinner. The dinner would be enjoyed with family in front of the Chimenea and his lawn and garden, in which he proudly kept top tier. When seeing Leigh, you could always count on a smile that filled his face from ear to ear and a laugh that would make everyone smile too.
Leigh has left a wonderful legacy and an abundance of love for his family. Bless him in heaven for he will be greatly missed.
Services for final resting place for both he and Anne will be held on June 11, 2021 at 11:00a.m. at the Olinger Mount Lindo Cemetery in Morrison, Colorado.
My deepest condolences to his siblings: Leonard, Lola Jean, and Lynette.
My condolences to his sisters and brother, Leonard, Lola Jean and Lynette