Darius "Chip" Franche IV

Darius C. “Chip” Franche IV, 68, entered his eternal home with family and friends at his side on Friday June 2, 2017. He was born on November 29, 1948 the son of Virginia Carson Franche and the grandson of Virginia Carson Lockwood.  Chip grew up in Kenilworth, IL and spent summers at the family home in Elgin Club on Lake Geneva.  He attended Dublin Prep School in Dublin, NH and Babson College in Boston, MA.  He was an entrepreneur owning his own business “Paint Chip” manufacturing and protective coatings.  He was an inventor, inventing the Handy Hopper pet food dispenser.  He was an avid Lake Michigan fisherman enjoying most his days with his children and friends out on Lake Michigan catching the big lake trout and Coho salmon. He was a talented carpenter and was able to fix and refinish anything.  He was a funny and loving father, brother and friend.

Chip is survived by: 2 children; Amy (Jeffrey) Freund of Lakemoor, IL and Chad (Nora) Franche of Arlington Heights, IL, 2 grandchildren; Carter and Lyana, and 2 sisters; Cricket (Alan) Jones of San Francisco, CA and Chace (Roger) Wolff of Lake Geneva, WI and many friends. There will be a gathering of friends Saturday July 8, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Derrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Lake Geneva. He will be laid to rest in the Lockwood Mausoleum in Forest Hills Cemetery in Eau Claire, WI. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy memorials are requested in Chip’s name to: Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind: 1850 W. Roosevelt Rd,  Chicago, IL 60608, The Chippewa Valley Museum, P.O. Box 1204, Eau Claire, WI 54702 or the Lincoln Park Zoo, 20001 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60614.  To sign the on-line guest registry click guestbook/condolences  

 Service Information