Elaine Mildred Francke 1928-2026

Elaine, the daughter of Mildred Groot and Otto Jacobsen, came from humble beginnings. She was born in Chicago (at home) during the Great Depression, when life in America and elsewhere was truly a struggle. It was during these early formative years that she learned hard-life lessons that gave her the resolve she would need to overcome obstacles and the resilience to withstand hardship. After attending and graduating from Austin High School in Chicago, Elaine took secretarial classes where she became proficient as a typist and subsequently found work at the Chicago Northwestern Railway Company. In 1949 she married the love of her life George Robert Francke. Together, they built a home in Grayslake, Illinois and raised their two daughters Cheryl (Gordon) Persha and Janice Francke. Besides being a devoted caregiver to her disabled daughter Janice, she was an avid gardener and talented ceramicist, seamstress and knitter. She especially loved to travel with Cheryl. 

Elaine is preceded in death by her beloved husband (of more than 60 years), her parents, and younger brother Otto Jr. She is survived by her two daughters, her loving grandson Gordon Jr., brother Richard, two nieces, one nephew, four grand nieces and two grand nephews. Ninety seven years of Elaine is not enough. We will miss her deeply.

A visitation and funeral service are scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030 from 10:30am until 11:30am with the service commencing at 11:30am.  Interment will be held following the services at Avon Centre Cemetery in Grayslake, IL.

For more information log onto www.strangfuneral.org or contact (847)223-8122.