Nathan Albert Francque

Nathan Albert Francque, a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the age of 28.  Nathan was born in Moline, Illinois on May 31, 1996, to Joel and Heather (Dickens) Francque. Nathan grew up on the family farm in Geneseo with his parents and his younger sister, Lindsey.  Cremation rites will be accorded, and a private inurnment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations and memorial contributions may be made to the Nathan Francque Memorial Fund. In honoring Nathan’s wishes, all donations will be directed to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Healthy LifeStars, a program partnered with the University of Iowa, dedicated to ending childhood obesity. Memorials can be mailed to the Nathan Francque Memorial Fund, C/O Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory, 580 E. Ogden Avenue, Geneseo, IL, 61254.

Nathan was a deep thinker from a young age, always curious and constantly researching. There was never a topic or trinket too dull or small - anything and everything was worthy of exploration. How It’s Made, Mythbusters, and Modern Marvels were on a constant loop in the Francque household, and Nathan was always looking to recruit fellow fans.

Nathan was the oldest Francque of his generation. All of the cousins looked up to him, and he always made them feel seen and heard. They all have very fond memories of Nathan - the laughs, the long talks, and the encouragement to be themselves. 

Nathan was sweet, kind, caring, and thoughtful. He never asked a question just to ask, and treasured personal connections. He was present in conversations - honest, engaged and empathetic. Nathan graduated from Geneseo High School in 2014, and continued his education at Iowa State University, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering with a minor in Spanish. After graduation in 2018, he worked as a computer engineer at Collins Aerospace (Cedar Rapids, IA) and Intrepid Control Systems (Troy, MI) before accepting a position as a Senior Robotics Engineer at John Deere (Urbandale, IA) in 2022. Nathan believed in the value of each team member’s input, described as a motivator and passionate technical leader. He loved and encouraged random ideas that led to intentional innovations.

Nathan had a wide variety of interests and hobbies, including running, biking, rock climbing, and hiking. He also loved to drive west, wandering through Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. Nathan felt peaceful in his travels. Music was a big part of his life; he taught himself how to play the drums, harmonica and guitar. Not to say he was particularly gifted in any of these instruments, but the process of learning songs and listening to lyrics was another means of expression for him. 

Nathan’s sister, Lindsey, remembers when she and Nathan were driving together and they saw a bumper sticker on a car in front of them that read, “Not all those who wander are lost.” Nathan thought this quote, from J.R.R. Tolkien, perfectly captured the way he felt about his long drives: the act of wandering does not necessarily imply being lost but can show the transformative potential of embracing the unknown.

Nathan fought a long, courageous battle with mental health over many years. He tried everything he could and used every resource available to him. In the end, he did not give up, he lost the battle. He fought this illness with bravery and dignity and would encourage others with similar struggles to seek help.

Nathan is survived by his parents Joel and Heather Francque; sister, Lindsey (Ryan Lorig), Geneseo; grandmothers, Carole Francque and Sherry Dickens; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Bernard Francque and Richard Dickens, Jr., his grandmother Tamara Dickens, his uncles, Justin Francque and Scott Dickens, and his cousin A.J VanDerSchaaf.