"I worked with Gunter when I first came to the Department of Physiology at WVU in 2003. Myfondest memories of him were when he would "sneak" in the Main Office to "steal" a cookie (or two) before they were delivered to the seminar room. He would use the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the staff. He was never condescending,was always warm and friendly, and had a great sense of humor.My thoughts and prayers are with the Franz family and Ipray their preciousmemories soften their grief."
In loving memory of
Gunter N. Franz, PH. D.
March 13, 1935 - December 13, 2018
Gunter N. Franz, PH.D., age 83, of Morgantown, passed away Thursday morning, December 13, 2018 in his sleep at his home, with Wanda., his loving wife of 53 years, in attendance.
He was born March 13, 1935 in Backa Palanka in the failed state of Yugoslavia. His parents, Anton and Therese Franz, were part of the German-speaking minority living along the Danube River. His parents ran a successful haberdashery shop.
When World War II began, the region was taken over by Hungary, and he learned Hungarian in his early grades, which helps explain his skill at imitating foreign languages. In early September 1944, when he was nine years old, he and his extended family left their home ahead of the Russian army. When it became clear that they would not be able to return to their occupied homeland, they escaped into Germany to be captured by the United States Army. Gunter never returned to his hometown.
He grew up in Schwetzingen near Heidelberg and graduated from the Schwetzingen High School. He received a Dipl.Ing.degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1959. He became interested in applying his electrical engineering knowledge to understanding human biological functioning. In 1960, he left Germany to come to the United States to attend the University of Washington in Seattle.
He always praised the American system of advanced degrees for the huge amount of mathematical and scientific knowledge available and the accessibility of the professors. He took full advantage of what was offered and earned a doctoral degree in physiology and biophysics in 1968.
He loved ballroom dancing and attended the dances put on by the Foreign Student Club at the University. He served as President of the Club, where he met the clubs secretary, his future wife. He always maintained that American women were the best organizers and, with her help, they ran the club very efficiently. He wooed her on the dance floor and was married July 24, 1965. He said it was the best decision of his life. She introduced him to backpacking, and together they spent weekends in the summers packing into the gorgeous Washington mountains.
Dr. Franz was hired to teach physiology at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, West Virginia in 1968. He has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications in physiology and systems biophysics and is the co-author of the textbook Electronics for the Modern Scientist. He is an associate professor emeritus of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.
He loved teaching medical students and eagerly embraced the American open-door system of working directly with students. It was a joy for him to share the experience of learning with his students. He helped the learning process with his many jokes and great sense of humor and received the Outstanding Teacher Award in the School of Medicine in 1996. His students admired him and thanked him for his ability to inspire them. Dr. Franz served for 23 years as Chairman of the Academic Standards Committee. He spent a lifetime working to create good doctors, who could take care of him in his old age, which they did.
Dr. Franzs life experiences taught him to respect the dignity of each human person. He was a member of St. John University Parish and the right to life movement. He contributed by writing extensively for speeches and publications. He loved English for its ability to express ideas clearly. He became an expert at writing in his second language. When he became a citizen in 1971, it was his fourth (and final) citizenship.
He loved to travel and take photographs. In addition to traveling through the United States with his family, he toured Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, The Czech Republic, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, and Austria. He also visited Peru and cruised around South America.
Dr. Franz is preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law, Hans-Dieter Schrader, and his sister-in-law, Irmgard Franz.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda Franz, Ph.D., his three children, Lt. Col. Anthony Franz, Ph.D., and his wife Theresa Franz, BSN, of Dayton, Ohio; Angela Franz Franks, Ph.D. of Boston, MA; and Erika Franz, M.A. and her wife Katie Strohl of Baltimore, MD. In addition, he has twelve grandchildren.
In Germany, his surviving family members include his three siblings, Anton Franz and his wife Marga Franz, Irene Schrader, and Helmut Franz, along with seven nieces and nephews and their six children.
Friends may join the family to honor Dr. Franzs life legacy at Smith Funeral Cremation Care, 108 Holland Avenue, Westover on Sunday, December 16th from 1 to 3 pm and from 6 to 8 pm. A Scriptural Wake Service will be held at 8:00 pm Sunday in the funeral home to conclude the evening visitation. On Monday, December 17th, Dr. Franz will be moved to St. John University Parish, 1481 University Ave., Morgantown where additional visitation will be held from 10 AM until the celebration of his Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM with Reverend Father Justin Blanc as celebrant. Interment will follow in the East Oak Grove Cemetery. Guests are invited to a luncheon in the Parish Hall following the Mass and interment.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to West Virginians for Life, 25 Canyon Road, Morgantown, WV, 26508.
To send the family your personal condolences and other symbolic gestures, please visit www.smithfcc.com.
Tributes
"My thoughts and prayers are with the family.I am so sorry for your loss.Sam Stone"
"Dear Wanda,Please know you and your family are in my prayers. I have fond memories of Gunter when he would come to The Village and schedule transportation for your mom, Dollie Berning. He was always so nice. Dollie was very appreciative of him, too. My heart goes out to you. Love you. "
"Dear Wanda,I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers for your family. I am now in Colorado with my husband and I work for The Catholic Foundation here but I still read the Morgantown paper. Your husband sounds like he was an amazing man and your children are all very successful. God Bless. Peace & Blessings, Lisa Kukura"
"A Spathiphyllum was sent on December 15, 2018Angela, My deepest sympathy to you and all your family for your loss. You will all be in my prayers. - Sandra (Rodriguez) Newstadt"
"A Spathiphyllum was sent on December 14, 2018Dearest Franz Family, We are deeply sorry for your loss. Gunter was a marvelous teacher and a prince among princes. Our Love and condolences, Dave and Denise Wilcox "
"Dr. Franz was a physiology professor I had during medical school. He delivered our first lecture on the first day. It was quite memorable. Later he was a great mentor during my time on the Committee of Academic and Professional Standards that he chaired for more than 2 decades. His impact on generations of WVU trained physicians will live on. May he rest in peace."
"Dear Dr. Wanda Franz: We weep with you and your precious family during this time of mourning. The biographical information reveals what a great and amazing man he is. For all eternity nothing can take that away. May God almighty, our great savior, grant you grace and the peace that passes understanding. You all are in our prayers.Sincerely,Pastor Doug JosephTreasurer,West Virginians For Life"
"Dear Wanda,John and I are so sorry to hear of Gunters death. We remember how pleasant and kind he always was to us whenever we saw him. Gunter has a special place in our hearts because he did us a favor when Mike was engaged to a girl from San Salvador. Mike had finished college and moved to Virginia, but wasnt associated with a parish. A requirement for a wedding in the basilica where all of the brides family had gotten married was a letter from a priest stating that Mike had not been married before. There was a new priest at St. Johns who did not know Mike and he couldnt write the letter. I asked if someone from the parish could assure him that Mike had never been married, and because of Gunters status in the church, I asked if he could vouch for Mike. The priest said that would work and Gunter spoke with him. So Mike was cleared to marry in San Salvador where generations of the family were married. So they had a legal wedding in Morgantown with all of the brides foreign relatives in attendance and then a religious wedding in San Salvador, thanks toGunters influence. They have been happily married since 2009 and have 3 children (thanks to Gunters generosity). You will be in our prayers and in our hearts. Our deep condolences go out to you and we wish you good health and recovery from this momentous trial in your life."