Frank W. Kabbes

Frank W. Kabbes, age 71, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 P.M., on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll with Fr. Timothy Schott as Celebrant. Organist for the Mass will be Marcy Anderson. Lector will be Tom Espenhover, gift bearers will be Jane Schmitz, Mary Poen, and Julie Espenhover. Eucharistic Ministers will be Larry and Laurie Mohr, and Mass Servers will be Hannah Schmitz, Maggie Espenhover, and Abbie Espenhover. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:00 P.M. on Friday where there will be a Rosary at 3:30 P.M., and a Christian Wake Service at 7:00 P.M. by the Parish. Military honors will be conducted by the Carroll American Legion. Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Steve Renze, Gary Renze, Artie Melton, Steve Ellison, John Renze, and Rick Renze. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Born on June 5, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois at the University of Chicago Hospital. He was the son of Francis and Irene (Taylor) Kabbes. He grew up in Cleveland and graduated from high school in 1955. In December of 1958, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served until December 1966 stationed in various locations, including Vietnam for several years. He continued to work for the US Army in a civilian capacity on the Pershing Missile Program until January 1970. Following his military career he worked for Harris Corporation as a Computer Technician and ultimately Chief Engineer for the western North American continent, traveling from Anchorage, Alaska to Guadelajara, Mexico. Then as a contractor, Frank serviced the computerized photo-typesetter systems for the 5 major newspapers based in Mexico City for eight years. He was married to Sandra Ann Renze at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Auburn on July 15, 1979. The couple lived in Dallas, Texas following their marriage before moving to Des Moines in 2008. Frank was a member of St. Pius the X Catholic Church in Des Moines and the American Legion. In his spare time he enjoyed repairing and making furniture, reading, car shows, antique vehicles, crossword puzzles, and spending time with his family and friends. Surviving him are his wife Sandy of Des Moines; a daughter Sylvia Melton and her husband Arthur of Dallas, Texas; a son Ben Kabbes of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren: Amber Melton of Arkansas, John Melton of Dallas, Tanya Ellison and her husband Steven of Dallas, and Sylvia Kabbes of Dallas; four great grandchildren; seven brothers-in-law: Steve Renze and his wife Pam of Carroll, Bob Renze and his wife Renee of Lake View, Gary Renze and his wife Elaine of Lake View, Jim Renze and Jane Barto of Carroll, Rick Renze and his wife Jane of Carroll, John Renze and his wife Kathy of Carroll, and Doug Renze and his wife Dawn of Carroll; three sisters-in-law: Mary Poen and her husband Glen Sac City, Jane Schmitz and her husband Steve of Audubon, and Julie Espenhover and her husband Tom of Carroll; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by parents and his brother Wayne.