Beverly June (Sawyer) “Bev” Franzke of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2026, at the age of 102.

Bev was born March 6, 1924, in East Troy, Wisconsin. She graduated from East Troy High School in 1941 and received her teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1945. That year marked the beginning of both her professional career and her married life. In January 1945, Bev began teaching second grade at Blair Elementary School in Waukesha. The following month, on February 3, 1945, she married her high school sweetheart, Charles Robert Franzke, while he was home on leave during World War II.

Their love story began in East Troy as teenagers and grew into a marriage that lasted 78 years until Charles' passing in 2023. While Charles served as a torpedo bomber pilot in the Navy Air Corps during World War II, he sent an engagement ring home to his parents so they could give it to Bev for Christmas. Known to many in the Waukesha area as "Dancing Chuck," Charles and Bev shared a long life filled with family, friendships, travel, and community.

After the war, Bev and Charles made their home in Waukesha. Bev taught at Blair Elementary School for eight years before starting her family. Later, when her children were older, she returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher in Waukesha and continued teaching until the remarkable age of 80.

Bev is survived by her children, Debra Lee (Franzke) Fritz and Craig Charles Franzke; her son-in-law, Blake Fritz and her daughter-in-law, Marcia (Lidral) Franzke. She was the proud grandmother of Erik Charles Fritz (Monique), Kirsten Anne Fritz Adsit, Baron Charles Franzke, and Maren Starr Franzke, and the cherished great-grandmother of Leif, Willow, and Piper Adsit, and Charlotte, Eden, and Rowan Fritz. She is also survived by her niece, Tammy Waite (Rod) and her cousin, Dr. Anita Thomas, whose faithful visits and companionship brought her great joy in her later years.

Her family was especially grateful that her grandson, Baron Franzke, lived with her for four years, helping make it possible for Bev to remain in the home she loved until the end of her life.

She is also survived by her beloved granddog, Daisy, who shared her home and enjoyed the French fries Bev happily slipped her as a special treat.

Bev always placed her family and her home above everything else. She loved sewing, knitting, and cross-stitching, and she took great pride in decorating her home and making it a warm and welcoming place for family gatherings. She enjoyed attending antique shows and treasured the antiques that had been passed down through her family. Even into her nineties, she could often be found happily mowing her lawn. She also made the best apple pies, a treat her family and friends will always remember. Bev had a remarkable memory for the past and was like a walking, talking history book. She was also a gifted singer and often sang solos at church and at school when she was younger. Visitors to Bev’s home were often welcomed with a smile and a bowl of Hershey’s Nuggets, her favorite treat.

She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Waukesha and valued the friendships and community she found there. She also cherished time spent with her Glenn Drive neighbors and looked forward each year to the Glenn Drive block parties. Her Glenn Drive neighbors became some of her favorite friends.

Her early life was marked by the loss of her mother, Gladys (Wood) Sawyer, also a teacher, who died suddenly at the age of 23 when Bev was just five months old. After her mother's death, she was lovingly raised by her Aunt Edna, who became like a mother to her. Her family believes Gladys became the guardian angel who watched over Bev throughout her remarkable life and likes to think the years her mother never had were somehow gifted to the daughter who went on to live a remarkable 102 years.

Later in life, Bev and Charles enjoyed traveling together to Navy Air Corps reunions across the country. She especially treasured a trip to Japan with Charles on one of his business trips, as well as a memorable trip the two of them took together to Europe. One of Bev’s favorite journeys was to Peacham, Vermont, a picturesque village founded by her ancestor, Jonathan Elkins. While there, she and Charles donated to the town the original Revolutionary War journal of Jonathan Elkins, Jr., who served as a scout, was captured and imprisoned in Quebec, and was later transferred to a prison in London. Bev also supported veterans through fundraising efforts for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight in the Milwaukee area.

In her later years, Bev was blessed with many loyal friends who looked after her and brightened her days. Although she eventually outlived most of the friends of her own generation, she remained grateful for the kindness and companionship of those who became part of her life along the way. During her 102 years, she witnessed the passing of many beloved grandparents, aunts, uncles, relatives, and friends, carrying their memories with her throughout her life. She was also fortunate to share an extraordinary life with her husband, who lived to be over 100, making their long marriage and lifetime together especially rare.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Robert Franzke; her parents, Wilfred Sawyer and Gladys (Wood) Sawyer; her stepmother, Blanche (Werner) Sawyer; her aunts, Nellie (Wood) Lauderdale, Inez (Wood) Beers, and Edna (Wood) Whitmore Taylor; a half-brother, Tom Sawyer; a half-sister, Jean (Sawyer) Trampe; and her beloved granddog, Clayton, who, in dog years, managed to outlive even Bev. She was also preceded in death by many other beloved grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives, and dear friends, too numerous to name individually, whose love and influence enriched her remarkable life.

Bev's life was defined by resilience, warmth, independence, and an unwavering love for her family and home. Her legacy lives on in the generations of family she cherished and in the many students whose lives she touched through her years in the classroom. Her family will forever be grateful for the love, strength, wisdom, and unconditional love she shared throughout her long and beautiful life.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated physicians, nurses, therapists, aides, and caregivers from ProHealth Care who provided Bev with exceptional care, compassion, and support throughout her later years. They are especially grateful to the staff at LindenGrove Rehabilitation Center in Waukesha for helping her walk again after her serious fall and broken leg, making it possible for her to return to the home she so dearly loved. They also extend their sincere appreciation for the outstanding palliative care she received in her home during the final six months of her life, which helped her remain comfortable and continue living in the home she loved. The family also extends its sincere appreciation to the dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers whose visits, kindness, and nourishing meals brightened Bev’s days and helped her maintain her independence. The family also wishes to thank the Department of Veterans Affairs for the spousal support and assistance Bev received as the widow of a World War II veteran.

A Celebration of Life will be held graveside at Highland Memorial Park, 14875 West Greenfield Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026. A luncheon will immediately follow in the Hearthside Room at the Ingleside Hotel, 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee.