William Edwin Franklin, an American Roman Catholic prelate and former auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 95.
Born in Parnell, Iowa, on May 3, 1930, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Dubuque on February 4, 1956, after studying at Loras College and Mount St. Bernard’s Seminary in Dubuque.
He served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque from 1987 to 1993 and as bishop of the Diocese of Davenport from 1993 to 2006.
William Edwin Franklin, 95, American Roman Catholic prelate, auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Dubuque (1987-1993) and bishop Diocese of Davenport (1993-2006).