Frank Lee Ranes' Obituary
Frank Lee Ranes passed into the arms of the angels at Comfort House in Pella, Iowa on April 3, 2026 (Good Friday). He courageously battled renal cell carcinoma and complications of cancer for three and a half years.
Frank was born at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Centerville, Iowa on November 19,1950 to Mr. and Mrs. Harley Ranes (Josephine Belloma). Frank grew up in Centerville with many close relatives and was particularly close with his mother's Belloma family members. He enjoyed the beautiful vegetable gardens of his grandfather, the trains near the depot and the wonderful smell of Ashby's bakery.
Frank was born one year, to the day, sharing his birthday with his older brother Richard, starting school a year early to join Richard as his classmate. Frank attended Mckinley Elementary School, St. Mary's Catholic School, and was a graduate of Centerville High School class of 1968. He furthered his education, receiving a degree from Centerville Community College and studied business at Northeast Missouri State University, before accepting a job at Union Carbide in 1970.
Frank was united in marriage to Dianne McConville at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville on August 29, 1970. Dianne's uncle, the Reverend Thomas McConville, officiated the mass. Out of this union came two children, sons Scott (1972) and Bryan (1975).
Frank was baptized in the St. Mary's parish in Centerville. He loved God, often walking to church as a child to practice his faith. At different times throughout his life, he served as part of the Parish Council and the Knights of Columbus. He volunteered his time to various causes and worked church bingo to raise funds for the addition to the St. Mary's School in 1980.
Frank started at Union Carbide in 1970 and stayed with the company through multiple mergers, including Viskase, Curwood, and Bemis, until retiring after 44 years in 2015. He was well respected by his peers and was known for his fair leadership by his employees.
Frank loved working outdoors and took pride in the look of a beautiful lawn. He enjoyed bird watching, following his sons' activities, camping and a particular love of baseball, including coaching his sons' various teams. He was a loving and devoted husband and father who took pride in his family.
Left to cherish Frank's memory are his wife, Dianne Ranes; son, Bryan Ranes (Jamie Navarette), son, Scott (Sharon) Ranes and children, Maddie, Eli, and Jack; brother, Richard (Peggy) Ranes; sister, JoAnne (Jerry) Arbogast, and sister, Susanne (Ronnie) Ballanger; his brothers-in-law, Jim McConville and Mark McConville; his special aunt, Ann Green and her family; and many nieces, nephews, family members, friends, coworkers and Dianne's large extended Irish family.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Lawrence Lee Ranes; his parents, Harley and Josephine Ranes; grandparents, Frank and Lucy Belloma; great grandparents, Joe and Mary Lamantia; Dianne's parents, Leo and Coleen McConville; Coleen's parents, James and Madge Richardson; and a nephew, Kevin Arbogast.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday, April 11, 2026 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville. Burial will follow the service at Oakland Cemetery in Centerville. Memorials have been established to either the Comfort House Hospice of Pella (https://www.pellahealth.org/foundation) General Hospice Donation or Hospice Day of Care Fund or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Ranes Family, 501 North 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome .
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