NEWHALL: Cleyon V. Franck, 87, passed away Friday, July 24, 2026 at the Lutheran Home in Vinton.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Monday, August 3rd at the Central Presbyterian Church,110 2nd Street E, Newhall. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, August 4th at the church, officiated by Pastor Daniel Sanford. Interment will be held after the service at Raetz Cemetery in Atkins, followed by a luncheon at the church in Newhall.

Cleyon was born on April 5, 1939 in Newhall, the second of two children of Gilbert and Dorthy (Peyton) Franck. He graduated from Newhall High School in 1956 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He returned to Newhall in 1958 and married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara DeKlotz, who grew up on a nearby farm, on July 6,1959 at the Newhall Central Presbyterian Church.

After their wedding, Cleyon and Barbara started dairy farming on a farm one-half mile west of Newhall, where Cleyon was born. They later moved to a farm near Van Horne, and in 1972, to a farm one and one-half miles west of Newhall, which they eventually bought. They farmed there for 30 years and raised five children: Randy, Ron, Richard, Rachel, and Rhonda.

Cleyon was a consummate family dairy farmer of the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Donning bib overalls, adhering himself and his cows to a strict routine, and managing a family labor force, he adopted new practices and equipment to run a successful dairy farm.

Cleyon was a lifelong member of the Central Presbyterian Church. He was confirmed in the church in 1952, served for many years as the Sunday School Superintendent, and sang the bass line to weekly hymns and in the church choir.

Cleyon and Barbara retired from the farm in 2002 and moved to “town” to a house in Newhall.

Cleyon and his brother, Gordon, received a model railroad set for Christmas when they were young children. Cleyon rekindled his love for model trains when his children were young and built a sizable train layout in the basement of his parents’ home in Newhall.

Cleyon and Barbara enjoyed entertaining friends and family with “train parties” when farm chores allowed them time. Later, Cleyon’s collecting passion turned to model tractors and he acquired a large collection of “red” tractors - McCormick, Farmall, and International Harvester - that are displayed in the home.

Cleyon is survived by Barbara, his wife of 67 years; his children, Randy (Elaine) Franck of DeWitt, Ron (Joan) Franck of Newhall, Richard Franck of Bethesda, Maryland, Rachel (Brian) Hanson of Decorah, and Rhonda (Phil) Plourd of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin; his 14 grandchildren, Ryan (Allison) Franck, Brandon (Demi) Franck, Amanda (Jordan) Hunt, Kelsey Franck, Nathan (Emmilee) Franck, Caleb Franck, Ashley Franck, Joshua Franck, Katie Franck, Ben Hanson, Joel (Reanne) Hanson, Tony (Leah) Hanson, Rebecca Plourd and Leah Plourd; his 10 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, His brother’s widow Kathleen Franck, and his sisters-in-law, Elsie Mochal, Sherrie (Robert) Bouton, Joyce Wheeler, Bonnie DeKlotz.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Dorthy; his brother, Gordon Franck; and his brothers-in-law, Wayne Mochal, Don Wheeler, and Don DeKlotz.