Joseph and Mary Anna (Gerken) Fritz

Jack Fritz ca. 1985

John "Jack" Fritz, 83, of Cresco, Iowa, died Friday, September 19, 1986, at the Cresco Care Center. Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, September 22, at Conway Funeral Home in Cresco. The Rev. Lloyd Reuter, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, officiated, and burial was in Calvary Cemetery at Cresco.
      Mr. Fritz was survived by a sister, Anna Mae Fritz of Elgin, Nebraska. John was considered a brother by Edna Heimer, Luella Fritz, Gilbert Fritz, all of Cresco, and Ewald Fritz of Dodge Center, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents; also Vincent, Sylvester and Leo Fritz, Armella Herold, and Irma Ollendieck.

Peter Herold, 43, died on May 9, 1945, at Cresco, Iowa, and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery at Cresco.

Armella stayed on the farm for some time after Pete died. She served as housekeeper in the rectory at Plymouth Rock, Iowa.

Armella Herold, 58, died on Sunday, January 12, 1964, of a heart attack, while on her way to attend mass in the Plymouth Rock Saint Agnes Catholic Church Sunday morning. She had suffered from a heart condition for some time. A requiem mass was offered Wednesday morning, January 15, in Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco, Iowa. Offering the funeral mass was the Rev. Roland Braun, pastor of the Plymouth Rock church. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery at Cresco, Iowa.
      Mrs. Herold was survived by two sons, George Herold, of Cresco, Ia., and Edmund Herold, of Belmond, Ia.; eleven grandchildren; three brothers and three sisters, Leo Fritz and Gilbert Fritz, both of Cresco, Ia., Mrs. Ben (Irma) Ollendieck, of Cresco, Ia., Ewald Fritz, of Dodge Center, Minn., and Luella Fritz and Edna Fritz, both of Cresco, Ia. Preceding her indeath were her husband, Peter; a son, Virgil, who died in infancy; her parents; and two brothers, Vincent Frtiz, who died at the age of six, and Sylvester Fritz, who died in 1954.
      Relatives attending the funeral services were from Dodge Center, Bloomington Prairie, Adrian, and Worthington, Minnesota; and Dubuque, New Hampton, Schley, Plymouth Rock, and Fort Atkinson, Iowa.

Ida Fritz, 71, of Cresco, Iowa, died on Thursday, January 4, 1979, at the La Crosse Lutheran hospital, after suffering a cerebral hemmorage. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 6, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cresco, with the Rev. Roman A. Schares and the Rev. Ken Gehling officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco. Conway Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
      Mrs. Fritz was survived by her husband, Leo; two children, Gary Fritz, of Ridgeway, Ia., and Mrs. Dennis (Shirleen) Moe, of Waukon, Ia., six grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Emma Nelson and Mrs. Josie Stinson, both of Cresco, Ia., and Mrs. Otto (Bertha) Sollie, of Austin, Minn. She was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Despard, and a brother who died in infancy.

Leo H. Fritz, of Cresco, Iowa, died on July 15, 1981, at the Lutheran hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., July 17, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cresco, with the Rev. Roman A. Schares officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco. Conway Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
      Mr. Fritz was survived by a son, Gary Fritz, of Cresco, Ia., and a daughter, Mrs. Dennis (Shirleen) Moe, of Waukon, Ia.; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Gilbert Fritz, of Cresco, Ia., and Ewald Fritz, of Dodge Center, Minn.; and three sisters, Mrs. Ben (Irma) Ollendieck, Mrs. Ben (Edna) Heimer, and Luella Fritz, all of Cresco, Ia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ida, on Janaury 4, 1979; two brothers, Vincent Fritz and Sylvester Fritz; and a sister, Armella Herold.

HEART ATTACK FATAL TO MOTHER OF TWO, MRS. GILBERT FRITZ
Sudden Illness Struck Early Monday Evening.
Mrs. Gilbert (Eleanor) Fritz, 42, of Cresco, Iowa, died of a heart attack at the Fritz farm four miles east of town early Monday evening, July 20, 1953. Mrs. Fritz had not been ill before her death, having done her usual household and farm tasks during the day.
      A requiem high mass was offered Thursday, July 23, at 9:30 in the Cresco St. Joseph Church. Offering the mass and delivering the sermon was the Rev. Roman Schares, pastor. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco. The Peckosh Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
      Mrs. Fritz was survived by her husband, Gilbert; two sons, Joseph and Ronald; two brothers and three sisters, Joseph Lusson, of Rice Lake, Wis., Mrs. Edward Bouska, of Cresco, Ia., Mrs. Frank Drilling, of Boyd, Wis., Mrs. Edward Schemmel, of Cresco, Ia., Mrs. Matt Schoeberl, of Cresco, Ia., and Lieutenabt V.W. Lusson, who is with the Navy stationed at Green Cove Springs, Fla. Lieutenant Lusson and his family had just been visiting in Cresco the week before Mrs. Fritz's death, having left the previous Friday for Denison, Kansas, to see Mrs. Lusson's mother, who was seriously ill. Preceding Mrs. Fritz in death was her mother, who died July 3, 1947.

After Eleanor died, Gil asked his sister Edna "Tina" to move to Cresco and help him raise the boys, Joe and Ronnie.

Gilbert Fritz, 88, died on Monday, October 20, 1997, at the Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 24, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cresco, with the Rev. Michael L. Tauke presiding. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers were Chad, Kelly, and Aaron Fritz, Adam Miller, Mike Conlan, and Steve Julius. Conway Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
      Mr. Fritz was survived by two sons, Joseph (and Venita) Fritz, of Arnold, Mo, and Ronald (and Mary) Fritz, of Protivin, Ia.; three grandsons, Chad, Aaron, and Kelly Fritz; two granddaughters, Kim Miller and Lisa Fritz; two great-grandsons, Luke and Elisha Miller; one sister, Edna "Tina" Heimer of Cresco; and one brother, Ewald Fritz, of Kasson, Minn. He was preceded in death by his wife Eleanor, in 1953; his parents; three sisters, Armella Herold, Irma Ollendieck, and Luella Fritz; three brothers, Leo Fritz, Vincent Fritz, and Sylvester Fritz; and a half brother, John Fritz.

Irma (Fritz) Ollendieck died on January 9, 1984. Irma was buried in Calvary Cemetery at Cresco, Iowa.

Bernard "Ben" C. Ollendieck, 88, died on Wednesday, December 18, 1996, at the Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 21, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cresco, with the Rev. Michael C. Fitzgerald officiating. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery. Conway Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
      Mr. Ollendieck was survived by his children, Doris Ferrie, Marian Ollendieck, Donald Ollendieck, Jean McCarville, Joyce Sweeney, Robert Ollendieck, Richard Ollendieck, Charles Ollendieck, Kenneth Ollendieck, Judy Tucker and Dean Ollendieck; 48 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray Ollendieck; and one sister, Anna Chapman. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; an infant brother, Joseph; and one sister, Regina Ebert.
Source: http://www.pafways.org/obituaries/crescotimesplaindealer/1996/1996novdec.htm

Ewald Fritz, 83, of Kasson, Minnesota, formerly of Dodge Center, Minnesota, died Tuesday evening, December 8, 1998, at Fairview Nursing Home in Dodge Center. Family and friends called from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, December 10, at Vernon-Czaplewski Funeral Home in Dodge Center, where there was a prayer service at 7 p.m., and an hour before the service Friday, December 11, at the church. A funeral Mass was held for Ewald Joseph Fritz at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 11, at St. John's Baptist De La Salle Catholic Church in Dodge Center, with the Rev. James Seitz officiating. Burial was in St. Margaret's Cemetery in Mantorville, Minnesota.
      Organist for the funeral was Rhoda Ehler. Vocalists were Gary Ferry and Allison DeRaad. Altar servers were James O'Blennis and William O'Blennis. Casket bearers were Dick Ollendieck, Steve Fritz, David Maroo, Bob Maroo, Chuck Heimer, and Tom Maroo. Honorary bearers were Tony Vihnicka, Vern Lutterman, Bill Dohrmann, Rod Bailey, Rudy Beniak, and Everett Selle.
      Mr. Fritz was survived by his wife, Marie; a daughter, Theresa (Mrs. Bruce) Keller of Rochester, Minn.; a son, Michael "Mick" of Dodge Center, Minn.; four grandchildren, one stepgrandchild, two great-grandchildren, and one stepgreat-grandchild; and a sister, Edna "Tina" Heimer of Cresco. He was preceded in death by five brothers, three sisters, and two grandchildren.

Marie L. Fritz, 87, of Dodge Center, Minnesota, died Monday, June 11, 2001, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Family and friends called from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, June 15, at Czaplewski Family Funeral Home in Dodge Center, where there was a prayer service at 7 p.m., and an hour before the service Saturday at the church. A funeral Mass for Marie Louise Fritz was held 10 a.m., Saturday, June 16, at St. John's Baptist De La Salle Catholic Church in Dodge Center, with the Rev. James Seitz officiating. Burial was in St. Margaret's Cemetery in Mantorville.
      Mrs. Fritz was survived by a daughter, Theresa (Bruce) Keller of Rochester, Minn.; a son, Michael (Jeanne) of Dodge Center, Minn.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, two brothers, a sister, and two grandchildren.
Source: Archive of the Rochester, Minnesota, Post-Bulletin Online, http://www.postbulletin.com/

Luella Fritz, 73, of Cresco, Iowa, died on Thursday, September 13, 1990, of cancer, at the Cresco Care Center. Family and friends called after 3 p.m. Sunday, September 16, at the Conway Funeral Home in Cresco, where the rosary was recited at 4 p.m. and a scripture prayer service was said at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian burial was offered at noon, Monday, September 17, at Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco, with the Rev. Michael C. Fitzgerald officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery at Cresco.
      The organist at the funeral was Mary Tremmel, and soloists were Kerby Ollendieck and Tim Sir. Pallbearers were Richard Heimer, Bruce Keller, Ronald Fritz, Richard Ollendieck, Pat Ollendieck, and Alvin Herold. Honorary bearers were Leland McCarville, Edmund Herold, Mick Fritz, Joe Fritz, Donald Ollendieck, Robert Ollendieck, Steve Fritz, and Ron Ferrie.
      Miss Fritz was survived by two brothers, Gilbert Fritz of Cresco, Ia., and Ewald Fritz of Dodge Center, Minn.; and a sister, Edna Heimer of Cresco, Ia. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Armella Herold and Irma Ollendieck; and four brothers, Leo, Vincent, Sylvester, and Jack Fritz.
      Relatives attended the funeral from Rochester, Dodge Center, Winona, Mazzeppa, St. Paul, and St. Cloud, Minnesota; and Iowa City, Waterloo, Dubuque, Sheffield, Waukon, Fayette, and Cresco, Iowa.

Ben Heimer, 68, of Cresco, Iowa, died Friday morning, December 14, 1984, of a heart attack, at home. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, December 18, at Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco, with the Rev. Donald Heineman officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco. Conway Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
      Mr. Heimer was survived by his wife Edna; three sons, Dick Heimer, of Sheffield, Ia., Mic Heimer, of Austin, Texas, and Chuck Heimer, of Mason City, Ia.; two daughters, Sandi Villinski, of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and LeAnne Julius, of Iowa City, Ia.; 12 grandchildren; four brothers, Morrie Heimer, of Hibbing, Minn., Tom Heimer, of Lake City, Minn., Gene Heimer, of Algona, Ia., and Dan Heimer, of Kansas City, Kansas; and a sister, Agnes Crawford, also of Kansas City. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Marvin Heimer; and his first wife, Hazel.
      Relatives and friends attended the funeral from Iowa City, Sheffield, Mason City, Des Moines, Rockwell City, Stacyville, Waukon, Algona, Thompson, and Buffalo Center, all in Iowa; Austin, Texas; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kansas City, Kansas; Austin, Houston, Lake City, Stewartville, Dodge Center, and Adams, all in Minnesota; and the surrounding area towns.

Edna R. "Tina" Heimer, age 81, of Cresco, Iowa, died Monday, January 24, 2000, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Funeral services for Edna Heimer were held at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, January 27, at the Assumption Worship Center in Cresco. The Rev. Michael L. Tauke officiated. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery at Cresco. Pall bearers were Aaron Fritz, Scott Villinski, David Heimer, Jarrod Julius, Al Herold, and Todd Ollendieck. Conway Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
      Mrs. Heimer was survived by three stepsons, Dick Heimer of Sheffield, Ia., Michael Heimer of Rochester, Minn., and Charles Heimer, of Kasson, Minn.; two stepdaughters, Sandi Villinski of Singapore, and LeAnne Julius of Iowa City, Ia.; and 13 stepgrandchildren and nine stepgreat-grandchildren. She was also survived by two nephews that she raised after their mother's death, Joe and Ron Fritz. She was preceded in death by her husband Ben, on December 14, 1984; five brothers, Gilbert Fritz, Ewald Fritz, Leo Fritz, Vincent Fritz, and Sylvester Fritz; one half-brother, John; and three sisters, Luella Fritz, Armella Herold, and Irma Ollendieck.
Source: http://www.pafways.org/obituaries/crescotimesplaindealer/2000/2000janfeb.htm

Sy Fritz Is Mourned.
An entire community mourned the death of Sylvester F. Fritz, highly respected popular member of the Blooming Prairie high school faculty, who died about eight o'clock, Tuesday morning, December 14, 1954, at his home in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. He would have been 34 years old the next month. Funeral services were held at 9:30 a.m., Friday, December 17, at St. Columbanus Church in Blooming Prairie, with Father H. Boecker officiating. Burial was in the Catholic section of Blooming Prairie cemetery.
      Pallbearers were Hubert Srsen, Harold Morrison, Chas. Reps, Wayne Kannel, Frank Ressler, Jr., and Omer Folven. Honorary pallbearers were Maurice McFarlin, Dee Carey, Frank Betlach, Ed. M. Betlach, Douglas Delano, and Harold Stephen.
      Death of the young former coach and teacher marked a tragedy which first touched him and his family and eventually was felt by the entire community when it was learned in early spring 1954 that he was a victim of cancer. Medical science could not arrest the disease and his condition grew progressively worse despite every effort of doctors and the prayers of a community where he was known for more than eight years with affection and esteem.
      The community's heartfelt sympathy was extended to the bereaved family, which included his widow, Ellen "Connie," and four young daughters and a son, Jill, age 10; Patricia, age 7; Stephen, age 5; Bridget, age 3; and Maureen, age six months old.
      From school children who knew him as the former star athlete and an understanding coach and teacher, to his fellow World War II veterans who took his misfortune as part of their own and worked many hours to help him move his family into a recently purchased home, to the elderly residents who knew and respected him as a competent educator and a devoted father, the community mourned the untimely death of "Sy," as he was affectionately known.
      Coach Fritz's name will always hold an esteemed place in the history of the Blooming Prairie high school, and in the hearts of the legion of friends who deeply mourned the tragedy that struck the young man and his bereaved family.