Franklin Bert Balke, 70, of Lake Charles died at 8:17 PM on Sunday, November 26, 2006 in Houston, TX at M. D. Anderson Hospital.

Mr. Balke was born March 23, 1936 in Schulenburg, TX and was a graduate of Ardmore High School in Ardmore, OK. He attended Texas A & M University, where he was a member of the Texas Aggie Corp. and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Petroleum Engineering. Mr. Balke served in the U. S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, where he was stationed at Fort Meade, MD, where he met, Jeanne, his loving wife. He retired ten years ago as a division manager from Conoco after thirty years of employment. Moving to Lake Charles in 1998, he was a member of St. Michael and All Angel's Episcopal Church, where he was instrumental in organizing the construction of the St. Michael's Fellowship Hall. He was a Lay Reader, on the Vestry Group and organized the Seniors of St. Michael's Group. Mr. Balke volunteered for a number of years as a children's mentor at Nelson Elementary. He was an avid square dancer and ballroom dancer, belonging to Tempo Dance Club, the Cajun Capers Square Dance Club and the Swinging Rebel's Square Dance Club.

Mr. Balke is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Jeanne Knowles Balke; two daughters, Carole Ferriss and husband Mark and Cynthia Shrewsberry and husband Keith, all of Lake Charles; brother Bennie Balke of Niwot, CO; and two grandchildren, Jason Bennie Ferriss and Kevin Ross Shrewsberry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bennie and Lillian Balke and brother, Richard G. Balke.

Funeral services will be 1:30 PM on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. Reverend Peter Cook and Jim Lueckenhoff will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Tuesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and continue on Wednesday at the church from 12:00 PM until the start of the service.

Donations in his memory may be made to the St. Michael and All Angels Building Fund, 123 West Sale Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605 or the American Cancer Society, One Lakeshore Drive Suite # 1585, Lake Charles, LA 70629.