John Christian Frandsen

John Christian Frandsen passed away June 16, 2025, at Bethany Hospice in Auburn, Alabama after a short illness.  He was 92.

John was born in Grantsville, Utah to John Leland “Lee” Frandsen and Rachel Marguerite Anderson Frandsen.

John graduated from Grantsville High School and earned a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate in Zoology/Parasitology, at the University of Utah.  He completed further studies at the University of California (Berkley) and the University of Pennsylvania.  He worked for the United States Department of Agriculture serving as director of the Regional Parasite Research Laboratory in Auburn, Alabama.

As a Colonel in the Army Reserve, he served as a consultant in Parasitology, Preventive Medicine Consultants Division, Office of the Surgeon General of the Army.

John held various teaching positions in addition to his work with the U.S.D.A.  including Adjunct Associate Professor in the departments of pathobiology and zoology & entomology, Auburn University and as Visiting Professor, Tuskegee University.

He was active in, and held several leadership positions, with the mid-south district of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

John had a lifelong love of learning and was active in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) chapter at Auburn University where he taught and attended classes.  He participated in the Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference and was active in Village Friends.  He was committed to environmental and ecological issues with memberships in the Sierra Club and the Environmental Defense Fund.

John was married to Annie Laura Clements and adopted her four children.  He later married Jeannette Fichter Blow.

He was predeceased by his wife, Jeannette; sister, Judith Gwen Frandsen Ireland; son, Michael T. Frandsen.  He is survived by his children:  Teresa Frandsen Smotherman (Sid), Wesley E. Frandsen, and John T. Frandsen; his stepdaughters:  Margaret Blow Bearss (Clyde), Liz Blow Holden, and Susan Blow Cochran (John); his nephew, Matthew Q. Ireland; 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. 

The family wishes to thank the care givers of Synergy Healthcare and Bethany House Hospice for the wonderful, loving care they gave him and all the family during his time in their care.

The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Village Friends or the East Alabama Food Bank.