Francis is the first born of Andrew Pfannenstiel and Mary Rose Gassman. He was born in Portland, Oregon when Andrew and Mary went to visit Aunt Anna Gassman and Uncle John Bieker . His birth record says they were living at 594 Delay Street. There are several family histories that have Francis born in Schoenchen but that is incorrect. There is no known middle name for Francis. Heck, on Francis' birth record he has no name at all.....that line is completely blank. Francis loved horses. In 1929 shortly after contracting the mumps at the same as Herman (his younger brother) he went with the family to Ovid, Colorado on their first time to pick beets. After reading Francis' obituary and death record, it looks like he never completely recovered from the mumps. Someone donated the plot in Pleasant Valley Cemetery (now Ovid Cemetery) because there is no record of Andrew and Mary buying one. Francis is listed in the 1920 US Census as "Frank" and strangely enough he is listed on the 1930 Census (of course taken after he died). The question in the 1930 census says "Include every person living on April 1st 1930. Omit children born since April 1, 1930". I can only speculate that perhaps a neighbor was giving the information and not a member of the family.
Research and bio by Rita McKale.

Obituary
Illness Proves Fatal
Frank Pfannenstiel Succumbs to Ravages of Mumps and Malaria Fever
Mumps and malaria fever proved fatal to Frank, the 15-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Pfannenstiel, who passed away Tuesday at his home, on the A. J. Manuello, farm, about two miles north of Ovid. The lad came to Colorado this spring with his parents and has been critically ill for the past month. His condition became alarming severe days ago, and his suffering and agony continued until the end. The family formerly lived in Kansas.
The funeral services were held from the Catholic church in Julesburg yesterday morning. The lad is survived by his parents, four sisters and three brothers.
The bereft family has the sincere heartfelt sympathy of a large circle of friends -
Ovid Record

25 July 1929 The Julesburg Grit

Francis' death record lists Pleasant Valley (now Ovid Cemetery) as his burial place. From the family pictures it looks like his grave is marked with a wooden cross and most likely a permanent marker for him was never placed. A couple of FindAGrave volunteers have walked the cemetery looking for his marker but one was not found.