Geneva Mae Frantzreb

Geneva Mae Frantzreb, 89, of Greenfield Indiana, passed away on August 23, 2023. She was born in Powhatan, Arkansas on January 9, 1934 to Bill and Noveller (Miller) Richardson.

Geneva was born during the Great Depression and lived in poverty during her childhood. She was the oldest daughter of 13 children, 6 of whom died shortly after birth. This early experience of death and grief affected Geneva throughout her life. She was often the primary caregiver of her siblings while her parents worked so she often wasn’t able to go to school; what education she got was mostly self-taught. She left home at 16 to live with Uncle Oscar and Aunt Florence in Illinois where she worked in a factory and sent money home to her family. She met and married Laverne McDanel, father to her four children. The marriage did not last and Geneva raised her children as a single parent. She taught her children that education was important; work for what you get, don’t accept handouts; and to always be honest. She helped any family member that needed help; her door was always open. Money was often tight, but there was always a roof over their heads, a bed to sleep in, and food in their bellies.

Once her children were grown and on their own, Geneva met and married Robert (Bob) Frantzreb, with whom she shared nineteen years of marriage before his death in 2000. They both loved to fish and garden. They even went to Michigan to fish on the Pere Marquette River on their honeymoon and traveled many times to Arkansas to visit her Uncle Oscar and fish in his pond. Geneva had a green thumb and could grow anything! She and Bob grew both vegetable gardens and flower gardens; she loved her flowers. She was also a great cook who prepared many holiday meals for an ever expanding family: all were welcome at her table.

Geneva enjoyed learning new skills and hobbies. She liked to sew and do jigsaw puzzles. She loved to read - her house was filled with books and every grocery shopping trip included at least one gossip magazine. She took cake decorating classes and made wedding cakes for grandsons Joshua and Jeremy and many specialty cakes for birthdays, baby showers and other family events. She learned to crochet and quilt, giving multiple afghans and quilts to family members that will be cherished for many years to come.

Geneva is survived by her daughters Brenda Martin (Bill Potts), Mooresville; Faith Lewis, Las Vegas, NV; Freida Phillips (Michael), Indianapolis; daughter-in-law Tracie McDanel, Greenfield; grandchildren Angelique, Rachel, Darcy, Joshua, Jason, Jeremy, Chad, Nathaniel, Cevyn, Christopher, Trent; sisters Linda Johnson, Greenfield; Patricia Villalpando (George), Sutter, CA; 20 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Frantzreb; son Rodney McDanel; granddaughter April McDanel; sisters Pearline Malone, Marcella Wiggs, Thelma Jolly, Vonda, Wanda and Verta Richardson; brothers G.W., Stoney, Donald Ray and W.G. Richardson; great-grandsons Nicholas, Larry Lee, Jason II and great-granddaughter Kaylee.

Funeral services are being held at Indiana Funeral Care – Harry W. Moore Chapel, 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis IN 46250. Visitation will be on Tuesday August 29, 2023, from 11:00am to 1:00pm with a funeral service beginning at 1:00pm. A burial will follow at Oaklawn Memory Gardens.

If you wish, in lieu of flowers, you may make a memorial contribution to Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter.