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Seth Lee Franzman, age 86, passed away May 3, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. He was the son of the late Pete and Alberta Franzman. 

Seth was born in western Kansas, where his family was engaged in farming. When he was ten years old, he and his family moved to Ordway, and continued farming there. He attended Ordway and Cheraw schools, and graduated from Ordway High School in 1956. He played basketball and football in both schools, and had the unique experience of playing 11-man football in Ordway and both 6-man and 8-man football in Cheraw. In both communities he was involved with several 4-H projects, including one-act play competition, and electrical, tractor and sheep projects.

He drove tractors and combines and operated other farm equipment on the family farm during his middle school and high school years. That experience proved to be very beneficial as it provided an opportunity to learn from his father along each step. His love for tractors never left him.

Although he was born into a long line of family farmers, he was not destined to be a farmer himself. He earned an Associate Degree from Otero Junior College (now Otero College), a Bachelor Degree from the University of Denver, and a Master Degree from Arizona State University, all in business administration. He also studied a year at the University of Birmingham, England, as a Graduate Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellow, sponsored by Rotary International. Education was very important to Seth, and even after his formal education ended, he sought to be a lifelong learner through travel, listening, reading, and general curiosity. Throughout his life he enjoyed meeting and making new friends and finding ways to connect them with each other.

Seth met his future wife, Barbara, in a shared class at Arizona State University, but bachelorhood prevailed until nine years later. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

Seth’s professional career covered 36 years as a Property Tax Administrator for the State of Arizona. In their retirement, Seth and Barbara traveled to both domestic and international places of interest, and enjoyed the leisure time retirement offered. Among their favorite destinations were Colorado, western Canada, and river cruises on numerous European rivers.

Opportunities to fulfill their overflowing bucket list of travel destinations to see and learn were curtailed by the COVID pandemic, then by Seth’s declining health. During their travels, Seth took many photographs, while Barbara wrote notes along the way in special notebooks. Those notes proved to be valuable when, while looking at the photos later, questions would arise such as “where was that place?” or “who were those people?” Barbara’s notebooks provided answers.

Seth’s professional affiliations included the International Association of Tax Administrators, Western States Association of Tax Administrators, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He was a Rotarian for 25 years. He volunteered with the Arizona Geographic Information Council, and as a tour guide at the Arizona Capitol Museum, and was a member of the Capitol Museum Guild, where he served as treasurer for 13 years. He served as a volunteer tour guide at the Arizona Heritage Museum, a branch of the Arizona Historical Society. He was a board member of the Central Arizona Chapter of the Arizona Historical Society. Other board memberships included the Arizona Friends of Talking Books, which serves individuals who are unable to read standard print due to a visual or physical disability, and the Otero College Foundation.

Seth was honored by the Arizona Geographic Information Council with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, Otero College recognized Seth and Barbara for their support of the college by naming its new Student Collaboration Room in their honor. Otero College, where he graduated in 1958, also honored Seth with its Distinguished Alumni Award at its 2023 Commencement Ceremony.

He is survived by his wife Barbara; sister, Gail Knorr and her husband Bill; niece, Holly Barnes and her husband Jim; and grandniece, LeighAnne Barnes.

Those wishing to honor Seth’s memory may make a contribution to Arizona Friends of Talking Books, 1030 North 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85008, or the Franzman Scholarship Fund, in care of Otero College Foundation, 1802 Colorado Ave., La Junta, CO 81050.

Arrangements were under the direction of Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery.