Longtime Springfield attorney dies at 89

Longtime Springfield attorney Benjamin Francka died March 1 after a long illness. He was 89.

After being admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1951, he worked for Springfield law firm Miller & Fairman for three years and as Greene County assistant prosecuting attorney for another three years. In 1959, he entered private practices, which made up the bulk of his career, according to his obituary at Legacy.com.

During his career, he represented myriad labor unions in southwest Missouri.

The 1987 president of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, Francka also served 25 years as legal representative for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

Francka is survived by his wife Rosie, son Ben and daughters Jane Hadfield, Mary Thoele and Martha Phillips.

A rosary ceremony is scheduled 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at Immaculate Conception Church, 3555 S. Fremont Ave., followed by a visitation. His burial will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Bolivar, according to the obituary.