Lona Grace Franklin (nee Nielsen), 79, passed away on Sept. 20 at a care facility in Sacramento.
Lona was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 19, 1947, to Poul (Paul) Stefan Johaness Nielsen and Ragnhild Nielsen (nee Anderson).
Lona came to the United States as a young child, originally living in Michigan then moving to Elgin, Ill. She became a naturalized citizen on Nov 22, 1955.
Lona moved to California and later married the love of her life, Glenn Paul Franklin, in 1984. They moved to Mariposa in 1985, loving life and each other until Glenn’s passing in 2018. Lona remained in Mariposa until she was hospitalized in May of this year.
Lona was preceded in death by her father, Paul Nielsen; stepmother, Audrey Nielsen; her mother, Ragnhild Nielsen; sister, Kathe Grman; her brother, Jens Peter Nielsen and her beloved husband, Glenn Franklin.
She is survived by her brother, Steve Nielsen and his wife, Pam Nielsen of Oswego Ill.; sisters in-law, Cheryl Franklin of Rohnert Park; Ninya Follansbee of Mariposa; brother-in-law, John-Henry Franklin, of Mariposa, along with numerous nieces and nephews, near and far and step-siblings.
A small, private service will be held at Olive Hill Cemetery in Geyserville.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cousin Jack Music Foundation at 4878 Leonard Rd. #6, Mariposa, CA 95338 to support the music community which is near and dear to Lona, Glenn and the Franklin family.
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