Evelyn "Kay" Franks
Kay Franks, as everyone knew her, passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025, peacefully with family by her side at Country Terrace Assisted Living in Minocqua at the age of 88.
Kay was born in Richmond, Indiana, on June 7, 1937, to William and Genevive Franks. At an early age, she and her family moved to Oshkosh, where she grew up, graduated from Oshkosh High School, and then married Donald Schwoch.
She and Don raised three children, Jeffrey, Kevin, and Renee. They enjoyed going Up North to the Frank's cabin in Three Lakes, WI. In fact, they loved it so much in 1969 that they decided to pack up Jeff, Kevin, and Renee and build a home down the gravel road not far from the cabin. Three Lakes was a special place for Kay, where riding the snowmobile trails and being out in nature were her passions.
Kay loved having flower gardens and houseplants, which thrived under her green thumb. She also inherited a sweet tooth from her mother; we all benefited from her love of baking cookies, cakes, and desserts (thanks, Mom!) and entertaining family and friends. Kay was a hard worker, too. Besides being a homemaker, she also worked jobs that gave her time to get to know people. Between 1987 and 2002, she managed a 100-unit apartment complex in Sunnyvale, California. However, Kay returned to Eagle River to be with her children after divorcing Donald in 1992. Being back in Eagle River, she was home where she loved to watch all the wildlife, including the pesky squirrels, from the back porch.
Kay is survived by her daughter, Renee (Bert) Harris; daughter-in-law, Theresa (Kevin) Poole-Schwoch; granddaughter, Kayla (Tony) Alsteen; niece, Sarah (Jack) Gieske; nephews, Keith (Donna) Kern, Glenn (Marcia) Kern; and two great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind her beloved orange tabby cats, Olivia and Buddy.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents and two sons, Jeffrey in 2021, and Kevin in 2022. If there are snowmobile trails in heaven, Mom is there with her parents and her sons.
Her family is truly grateful to the caregivers from Compassus Home Health and to the staff at Country Terrace Assisted Living, where she lived for 4 months.
A private celebration of life and burial will take place in Three Lakes Cemetery in the spring of 2026.
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com PAID OBITUARY
