Fr. John Franck, C.PP.S., 73, died May 15, 2014, in Los Angeles, Calif. He had been in failing health.

He was born Oct. 4, 1940, in St. Henry, to Edmund and Bernadine (Hoying) Franck.

Surviving are two brothers, Fr. James Franck, C.PP.S., Newark, Calif., and Richard (Mary) Franck, St. Henry; two sisters, Mary (William) Borger, Tipp City, and Dianne Corbin, Indianapolis, Ind.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1954 and was ordained on June 3, 1967. He spent most of his life as a priest in parish ministry. After his ordination, he served at St. James the Less Church, Columbus; Holy Name Church, Cincinnati; and St. Veronica Church, Hamilton. In the 1980s, he served in the leadership of his religious Congregation, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati at St. Joseph's Orphanage and other projects.

In 1988, he was named pastor of St. Joseph Church, Wapakoneta. Beginning in 1991, he ministered at St. Edward Church, Newark, Calif., then was named co-pastor of St. Agnes Church, Los Angeles. In 1998, he was appointed pastor of Resurrection Church, Winter Garden, Fla., where he served until his return to St. Agnes in Los Angeles as its pastor in 2001. He continued to minister at St. Agnes until his death.

He brought many gifts to his ministry, his brother, Fr. James Franck said. He was a compassionate pastor who also was good with the administrative side of parish life. He was both musical and artistic. "He designed a lot of the decorations that are still in use at St. Agnes," Ft. Jim said. In the last days of his life, Fr. Jim visited him at St. Agnes "and I couldn't walk two steps without someone asking how he was doing." On the same day that Fr. John took a call from Cardinal Roger Mahoney, a little girl who is an altar server at the parish asked Fr. Jim to let Fr. John know she was praying for him.

"It was impressive to see all the people who were concerned about him," Fr. Jim said.

Fr. John Franck's memory will be honored at St. Agnes on Monday. Rosary and devotions will begin at 2:30 p.m. and a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. at the parish.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, with Fr. James Franck presiding and preaching. Concelebrants will be the C.PP.S. moderator general, Fr. William Nordenbrock, and Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S., provincial director. Burial will follow in the Community center.

Calling is 9 a.m. until noon Thursday at St. Charles.

Memorial donations may be made to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, Cincinnati Province.

Arrangements are being handled by Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry.