Frances Kay Clarke Syverson
Fran was born on November 1, 1956 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, youngest child of Edward and Jean Clarke. Fran’s Christian life began in Holy Baptism at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth. It was also in that congregation that Fran affirmed her Christian faith on her Confirmation Day, May 24, 1970.
Fran went to Armstrong High School, graduating in 1974, and to the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1980. The next year on Valentine’s Day, she and her husband Steve were married. A daughter, Allison, was born in 1984 and a son, Mike, in 1986. In early 1988, the Syverson family moved to Chanhassen. They became members of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in October of 1996.
For twelve years, Fran was a paraprofessional in early childhood development at the Deephaven Education Center and then more recently at Minnetonka High School. She also waitressed at the Old Log Theater for over 15 years.
In April 2006, she was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer. She underwent more than 80 chemotherapy sessions and numerous other treatments. Fran Syverson died at home very early on a Friday morning, April 3, 2009, at the age of 52. Franny is survived and will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Steve; daughter Allison and her husband Alex; son Michael; mother Jean Clarke; sister, Ramona and her husband Charlie; brother Arnold and his wife Diedre; mother and father-in-law Ruth and Dick Syverson; sister-in-law Deborah, her husband Tom and five nieces and nephews.
Fran was a regular participant at Get Your Rear in Gear events. Her team, Franny’s Fannies, showed up in numbers every year to support her. This year, shortly after Fran’s death more than 120 participants showed up to honor Fran and her commitment to colon cancer awareness. Fran will be deeply missed.