Francis Porsch

Francis W. Porsch, 88, of Selden, died Monday, August 16, 2021. He was born Dec. 2, 1932, to Walter and Thresia (Koerperich) Porsch at their rural home in Decatur County, KS. The family later moved to a farm east of Selden in Sheridan County, KS. He attended Cresco country school and graduated from Selden High School. He later joined the U. S. Army and was stationed in California.

Francis returned to Selden after his service and entered into the Porsch Brothers partnership with his older brother Norb and younger brother Doc. The partnership involved a construction business, farming, and a service station in Selden, with each of them taking the lead in one part of the business. Most of the construction business in the early days focused on building and remodeling homes and other buildings. Francis was a woodworking master, making many custom cabinets around northwest Kansas. Woodworking remained a hobby he enjoyed well into his later years. The business later was more focused on marketing and construction of metal HerCo and then Chief machine sheds and grain bins.

Francis married Leone Anderson on March 23, 1974. Francis won many awards for sales which allowed he and Leone to take several trips, favorites were their honeymoon trip to Spain and Morocco and a later trip to Hawaii. He employed many young men and other farmers from the area that needed extra work over the years taking pride in putting in a full days’ work.

When the Porsch Brothers partnership dissolved after the death of Norb in 1982, Francis turned entirely to farming, building upon the land he and Leone acquired over the years. He later worked with his nephew, Michael Porsch and his family, and remained an active farmer until after fall harvest in 2020. He took special pride in the crops and livestock he grew and keeping his pastures well fenced and free of musk thistle.

Francis’ nieces and nephews remember with fondness his love of games, especially one designed to be aggravating, that he later drew his great nieces and nephews into at every opportunity, as well. He enjoyed following his grand nephews and nieces sporting events and school achievements and sharing with them stories of the world he knew as a child, teen and young adult as they grew up. After his semi-retirement, he enjoyed reading about history and traveling around the area to historical sites and museums with family and friends and taking in auctions with his neighbor and friend J. R. Albers where he visited with old friends from his construction days.

Francis is preceded in death by his wife, Leone; his parents, Walter and Thresia; his brothers, Norb and Doc, and his brothers-in-law, Alfred (Dink) Dinkel and Stanley Shaw. He is survived by his sisters, Mary Anna Dinkel and Ramona Shaw; his sister-in-law, Myrna Porsch; his stepchildren, Julia Otter, Connie (Joel) Bryan, and Lorraine (Gerald) Ackerman; 11 nieces and nephews, Kathy Porsch, Ruth Porsch, Joan Porsch, Michael Porsch, Greg Dinkel, Anna Marie Johnson, Chris Gillespie, Colleen Wagoner, Mark Shaw, Cindy Black, and Mary Wahlmeier; several step-grandchildren, and numerous great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Francis’ life will be held August 27th at 11:00 am at the Selden Community Center. In lieu of flowers, Francis requested memorials be made to the Sheridan County Benefit Walk and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com