Frances Marie Magrabi

Frances Marie Magrabi PhD.
November 28, 1927 - August 19, 2005
Wellman, Iowa
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. August 23, 2005 at Wellman Mennonite Church
Frances Marie Magrabi PhD. Was born November 28, 1927 in Hanlontown, Iowa the daughter of Warren and Ethel Raffety Kisner. She graduated from Fertile High School in 1945. She graduated from Iowa State University with her Bachelors Degree in Home Economics, and a Masters Degree in Textile and Clothing. She lived in Clear Lake Iowa from 1953-1958 where she taught at various high schools in the area. In 1958 she returned to Iowa State University and received her PhD in Consumption Economics in 1961. From 1961-1971 she lived in East Lansing, Michigan where she was on the faculty at Michigan State University. From 1971-1980 she lived in Silver Spring, Maryland where she worked for the USDA as a Research Leader. In 1980 she moved to Illinois where she was a Professor and Head of the Home Economics Department until retiring in 1993 when she moved to Wellman, Iowa. She was the Keynote speaker at the 12th Congress of the International Federation of Home Economics in Ottawa, Canada. She served on the planning committee for the 1980 White House Conference on Families. She detailed to the White House staff during most of President Carter's Administration. She served on numerous delegations to World Food Conference in Rome and Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. She authored many publications, including the text book "The Economics of Household Consumption." Frances was a member of the Wellman Mennonite Church, Friends of the Library, Wellman Garden Club and ALC. Frances died peacefully on Friday, August 19, 2005 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a brief illness at the age of 77 years. Frances is survived by a son Michael Magrabi of Wellman; a sister - Carol Higgins and husband Dean of Estherville; and a brother George Kisner and wife Harriet of Wellman. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers - Charles Kisner and Herbert Kisner.