Dr. Emmerson D. Fransen, DDS, age 75, of Rochelle, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 5, 2007. He was born on April 9, 1932 in Freeport, IL the son of Jacob and Alice Zena (Buss) Fransen. Emmerson went to high school in Shannon, IL and then served in the United States Army from 1954 through 1956. He married Nelda M. Eden on March 2, 1956 in Stockton, IL. He attended Laterno Technical Institute of Engineering in Texas and Iowa State University. Emmerson graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1962, and practiced dentistry in Rochelle, IL from April 1963 through April 1999. He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Payne's Point, where he served as chairman on church council various terms.

Emmerson also served on the Rochelle Township High School Board of Education for thirteen and a half years and was chairman from June 1979 through November 1983. He also served on the Greater Rochelle Economics Development Corporation Board for seventeen years, with several of those years as chairman.

Since retiring from dentistry, he has enjoyed fishing, gardening, winemaking, attending various Rockford sporting events, woodworking, especially intarsia, which is an ancient form of working with inlaid wooden design and most important, attending all his grandchildren's sporting events. He made the logo's of inlaid wood for the Ice Hogs Hockey Team, River Hawks Baseball Team, Rapture's Indoor Football Team and the Thunder Girls Professional Fast Pitch Soft Ball Team and these logos are on display in their team offices.

Survivors include his wife Nelda of Rockford; 3 sons: Brian (Karen) Fransen of Chana; Randal
(Beth) Fransen of Decatur, IL; and Brent Fransen of Mt. Prospect, IL; a sister: Mardella Kuper
of Forreston, IL and 5 grandchildren: Ben Fransen, Natalie Fransen, Jacob Fransen, Max Fransen and Mitch Fransen. One step grandchild: Derrick Clark and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother: Richard Fransen.

Funeral services will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Paynes Point, IL with
Rev. Joan Adrian on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be at Unger-Horner Funeral Home in Rochelle, on Friday, Dec. 7th from 4 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers Memorials can be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Trinity Memory Gardens in Rochelle with military honors presented by the V.F.W. Post 3878.