ATLANTA, Georgia – Franz Josef Lani died peacefully at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 10, after a brief illness. He was born in Tschagguns, Austria, in 1951 to Franz Lani and Marie Elsa Bitschnau. His family were part of the 65 million Europeans who were displaced due to Nazi occupations during WWII. Fortunately for Franz and his family, his parents were approved for relocation to the United States and arrived in October of 1951, when Franz was just 10 months old. He obtained US citizenship in 1958 when his father became a naturalized citizen. Franz’s father was a mining engineer, and the family was relocated to Leadville, Colorado where Franz was an avid skier, and graduated from Leadville High School.
Franz went on to begin a degree in Journalism, before entering the construction trade as an electrician, working in Cheyenne, Laramie, and eventually making his home in Torrington before moving to Atlanta, where he began his own company, Lightyear Electric, which he owned and operated up until the time of his death.
Franz’s happy go lucky approach to life attracted many friends from all walks of life, all of whom will remember him as someone with an outstanding work ethic, a kind heart, a ready smile, and as a person who enjoyed his leisure time as much as his work life. Franz was a UW football fan and held season tickets for years. He also loved the Guernsey and Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeos, where he often was a reiner on various wild horse race teams with good friends Pete and John Laybourn of Cheyenne, and Bob Maffeo of Phoenix.
Franz is survived by his sons, Franz Derek Lani of Arizona and Josef Pascone of Texas, sisters Hannelori Rivelli of Denver, Renate Diebold of Atlanta, brothers Quido, Stefan, and Kurt of Colorado. Franz will be deeply missed by his several nephews and nieces, his grandchildren, the Rock, Eaton, and Breedlove families, and his many friends throughout the country. He was predeceased by his parents, and his older brother Oswald.
Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service is planned for the spring in Leadville, Colorado. A celebration of Franz’s life will be hosted by Pete Laybourn during Cheyenne Frontier Days.
