Chad Francis Memorial College Fund
Donation protected
Chad Francis was a loving husband, devoted father, and cherished friend. He was taken from his family and friends very suddenly and unexpectedly, following a catastrohpic heart attack, just a week before his 50th birthday. Chad worked tirelessly to support his family -- including his wife, Sonya, and two young sons, Zayne and Devan -- as a self-employed videographer. While his business was successful, Chad elected to work primarily in support of two organizations devoted to the health and well-being of others, Avera Health and the Good Samaritan Society, rather than pursue opportunities to maximize his income.
The goal of this Go Fund Me page is to help his family handle his final expenses, provide his wife and children
with a life-line to bridge the time until they can re-establish their financial stability, and set up a college fund to protect the future of his children.
Any and all contributions will be highly appreciated assistance in this difficult time. Thank you very much for your support.
Complete Obituary
Chad Allen Francis was born to Ron and Beverly (née Havranek) Francis on November 7, 1967, in O’Neill, Nebraska. He was baptized, confirmed and graduated eighth grade at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School in O’Neill. The family moved to Royal, Nebraska, in 1982, where Chad graduated from Orchard Public School in 1986. He attended Wayne State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcasting in 1990. His first jobs were as Master Controller with the local ABC-TV affiliate, Channel 9, and Continuity Director at KMNS/KSEZ Radio, both in Sioux City, Iowa, where he met his future wife, Sonya Elaine Terry. Chad and Sonya were married in Sioux City on October 9, 1993.
In 1997, the couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Chad worked as a videographer for Dr. Reuben Setliff, founder of the Setliff Sinus Institute. In 1999 Chad and Sonya moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they established their own company, CFS Productions, focusing on medical and educational videography for major healthcare companies including Good Samaritan Society and Avera Health.
In addition to his work, Chad’s passions in life included his family and music. He and Sonya were blessed with two amazing sons, his pride and joy, Zayne, born in 2002 (now 15), and Devan, born in 2006 (now 10). As he worked primarily in his home office, Chad was able to combine his work with the role of stay-at-home dad to his two sons, a role he truly loved despite the challenges. Chad’s love of music spanned many genres and periods. His encyclopedic knowledge of the subject was legendary among his friends and family, and the joy it gave him permeated both his personal and professional lives.
Chad passed suddenly and unexpectedly on November 1, 2017, just one week before his 50th birthday, following a coronary embolism. In addition to his wife, sons, parents, and the family's much-loved little dog, Stormy, he is survived by his sisters, and their husbands and children: Christa and Stacy Smith, and their daughter, Chloe, of Murrieta, California; and Sheila and Jared Wetovick, and their sons, Dayle and Gus, of Central City, Nebraska; mother-in-law, Jeannette Terry Davenport, and her husband, Gene Davenport, of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Kristine Schnacke, and her husband, Jerry, and their daughter, Lia, of Chicago, Illinois; brother-in-law, Brad Terry, and his wife, Carlota, and their children, Nicolas, Micaela and Tristan of San Diego, California; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvin and Betty Havranek, and Claton and Betty Francis; his father-in-law, R. Franklin Terry; and brother-in-law, Dale Wettlaufer.
Chad’s compassion, creative talent and wit will be missed by so many. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 8 from 5 to 7 pm at Miller Funeral Home, 7400 S. Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls. Funeral Services are scheduled for Thursday, November 9 at 2pm Calvary Episcopal Cathedral, 500 S. Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, and a lively celebration of life and love -- in a style that Chad would approve of -- will be held following the service from 5 to 8 pm (the location will be listed at both visitation and the Cathedral).
Should friends desire, contributions to assist the family with final expenses may be sent to:
https://www.gofundme.com/chad-francis-memorial-fund
The goal of this Go Fund Me page is to help his family handle his final expenses, provide his wife and children
with a life-line to bridge the time until they can re-establish their financial stability, and set up a college fund to protect the future of his children.
Any and all contributions will be highly appreciated assistance in this difficult time. Thank you very much for your support.
Complete Obituary
Chad Allen Francis was born to Ron and Beverly (née Havranek) Francis on November 7, 1967, in O’Neill, Nebraska. He was baptized, confirmed and graduated eighth grade at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School in O’Neill. The family moved to Royal, Nebraska, in 1982, where Chad graduated from Orchard Public School in 1986. He attended Wayne State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcasting in 1990. His first jobs were as Master Controller with the local ABC-TV affiliate, Channel 9, and Continuity Director at KMNS/KSEZ Radio, both in Sioux City, Iowa, where he met his future wife, Sonya Elaine Terry. Chad and Sonya were married in Sioux City on October 9, 1993.
In 1997, the couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Chad worked as a videographer for Dr. Reuben Setliff, founder of the Setliff Sinus Institute. In 1999 Chad and Sonya moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they established their own company, CFS Productions, focusing on medical and educational videography for major healthcare companies including Good Samaritan Society and Avera Health.
In addition to his work, Chad’s passions in life included his family and music. He and Sonya were blessed with two amazing sons, his pride and joy, Zayne, born in 2002 (now 15), and Devan, born in 2006 (now 10). As he worked primarily in his home office, Chad was able to combine his work with the role of stay-at-home dad to his two sons, a role he truly loved despite the challenges. Chad’s love of music spanned many genres and periods. His encyclopedic knowledge of the subject was legendary among his friends and family, and the joy it gave him permeated both his personal and professional lives.
Chad passed suddenly and unexpectedly on November 1, 2017, just one week before his 50th birthday, following a coronary embolism. In addition to his wife, sons, parents, and the family's much-loved little dog, Stormy, he is survived by his sisters, and their husbands and children: Christa and Stacy Smith, and their daughter, Chloe, of Murrieta, California; and Sheila and Jared Wetovick, and their sons, Dayle and Gus, of Central City, Nebraska; mother-in-law, Jeannette Terry Davenport, and her husband, Gene Davenport, of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Kristine Schnacke, and her husband, Jerry, and their daughter, Lia, of Chicago, Illinois; brother-in-law, Brad Terry, and his wife, Carlota, and their children, Nicolas, Micaela and Tristan of San Diego, California; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvin and Betty Havranek, and Claton and Betty Francis; his father-in-law, R. Franklin Terry; and brother-in-law, Dale Wettlaufer.
Chad’s compassion, creative talent and wit will be missed by so many. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 8 from 5 to 7 pm at Miller Funeral Home, 7400 S. Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls. Funeral Services are scheduled for Thursday, November 9 at 2pm Calvary Episcopal Cathedral, 500 S. Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, and a lively celebration of life and love -- in a style that Chad would approve of -- will be held following the service from 5 to 8 pm (the location will be listed at both visitation and the Cathedral).
Should friends desire, contributions to assist the family with final expenses may be sent to:
https://www.gofundme.com/chad-francis-memorial-fund
Organizer and beneficiary
Brad Terry
Organizer
Sioux Falls, SD
Sonya Francis
Beneficiary
