Frances Karlson, age 88, of Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream and formerly of Wheaton, died Monday, March 31 at the Central Du Page Hospital. She was born on January 20, 1920 in Lorretta , Wisconsin to John and Florence Hazel Birkett.

Fran married Robert H. Karlson, who died during WWII. She graduated from Wheaton College and earned a Masters Degree at Northern IL Univeristy. She worked as a reading specialist in the Wheaton public schools and was a charter member of the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church.

She is survived by one sister; Florence (Harold) Helfer of Villa Park, one brother; Robert John (Rolena) Birkett of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter, Karen in 1965, one sister, Ada Doolittle and her parents.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 2, from 3 until 7 p.m. at the Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, where services will be held on Thursday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Bruce Love officiating.

Interment will take place in Winter Cemetery in Winter, Wisconsin.

Memorials may be directed to the Mission Fund at Wheaton Evangelical Free Church, 520 E. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187, Arctic Barnabas Ministries, 135 Granite Point Ct., Kenai, AK 99611, or Kenya Evangelical Mission, P.O.Box 700126, San Jose, CA 95170-0126.

Information and guest book is available at hultgrenfh.com or call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.