Franz K. Muller, 84, of Crystal Lake, was born in Nurnberg, Germany on September 14, 1933. He passed away Tuesday, June 5, 2018 in Woodstock. During his earlier years in Germany, Franz loved playing soccer, mountain and cliff climbing, and downhill skiing in the Alps.
Several photos were taken of Franz climbing a cliff called “Riffler” by the Pegnitz river in the Hersbrucker Schweiz area. At around age 15, Franz completed his apprenticeship as a toolmaker. In 1956, at the age of 23, Franz served one year in the German Army in the barracks near the city of Andernach by the Rhein river.
Franz then worked for a short time for a company in Switzerland. In 1958, Franz migrated to Chicago, IL as a toolmaker. He enjoyed playing soccer for the Hansa Club in Chicago, where he met his wife, Helga, who is also from Germany.
Franz and Helga married at St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago on March 18, 1961. They had two daughters, Linda and Christine. Franz and Helga were members of D.A.N.K (German American National Congress).
It was important to Franz and Helga that their daughters (and in later years, grandchildren) learn the German language and culture. Their daughters were enrolled in German School through D.A.N.K and visited relatives in Germany often. A few years after Franz’s daughters were born, he started his own company with partner, Guenther Bantin.
The company was called Crystal Die & Mold, Inc., located in Algonquin, IL. Franz and Guenther employed hundreds of people from Algonquin and surrounding areas, many of which became lifetime employees. While living in the United States, Franz still enjoyed playing soccer, took up tennis and golf, loved traveling, fishing, reading Westerns and WWII books, photography and going out to lunch with his business friends.
He is survived by his wife, Helga; his daughters, Linda (Patrick) Griffin, and Christine (Rick) Bjorkquist; his grandchildren, Jamie and Kyle Griffin; his great grandchildren, Jaylynn and Aaliyah; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Annemarie Heindle; and his parents, Konrad and Wilhelmine Muller. A visitation will be held from 5-8pm, Friday, June 8, 2018 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave.
, Crystal Lake. A funeral service will take place at 10am, Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the funeral home, proceeding to Crystal Lake Memorial Park in Crystal Lake for burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to American Diabetes Assn.
www. diabetes.org. Donations may be made to: American Diabetes Association 2451 Crystal Dr Ste 900, Arlington VA VA 22202 Tel: 1-800-342-2383 Web: donations.
diabetes.org/site/Donation2? df_id=18806&mfc_pref=T&18806.
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