William Alexander Fritz

WILLIAM ALEXANDER “Bill” FRITZ January 12, 1928 – March 5, 2018    William Alexander “Bill” Fritz, age 90, of Park Rapids, MN formerly of McIntosh, MN, peacefully passed into his heavenly home on Monday, March 5, 2018 at the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home.    Bill was born on January 12, 1928 in Douglas County, WI to Alexander and Viola (Hawkins) Fritz. As a boy he grew up in Rice Lake, WI where he worked on area farms. As a teenager he worked for the Delavel Milking Machine Company where he demonstrated how to properly use their milking machines to achieve maximum production on Dairy farms throughout the region. Later he ventured to North Dakota where he worked in the potato fields. Because of his large size as a teenager and because he exaggerated his age, he was one of the youngest teamsters to ever skid logs in the Wisconsin logging industry. As he grew older he worked on the Duluth Shipping harbor loading Iron Ore Ships. He later moved to Lengby where he met and married Beryl Poppler on September 4, 1949. They were blessed with six children: Bev, Bill Jr., Bob, Brent “Bud”, John and Bruce. In 1955, they moved to Lengby, MN where he logged with horses. In 1965, Bill began driving semi-truck for Land O’Lakes hauling milk. Bill moved with his family shortly thereafter to the McIntosh, MN area where they had a hobby farm just out of town where he raised Angora goats, sheep, cattle and always used a team of draft horses. After his retirement from Land O’Lakes in a career that spanned over 33 years, Bill began pulling a covered wagon with his team of horses from the Sand Hill Bible Camp to the Itasca Park Farmers Show Grounds each summer for seven years. In 2005, Bill moved to Park Rapids where he was united in marriage to Eva James. They made their home on Eva’s farm southwest of Park Rapids until the time of her death in 2017, when he became a resident of the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga.    Bill will be lovingly remembered by his five children: Beverly Aakhus of Thief River Falls, MN, Bill Jr. (Val) Fritz and Bob (DeDe) Fritz all of McIntosh, MN, Brent “Bud” Fritz of Winnsett, NC, and John Fritz of St. Paul; 15 grandchildren and many great grandchildren; five step-children: Faith (Robert) Acosca of Douglas, WYO, Hope (Brian) Christenson of Hopkins, MN, Charity (Oladoye) Temitayo of Park Rapids, MN, Lela Sanneh of Hawley, MN, and Marvin James II of Park Rapids; ten step-grandchildren; 3 sisters: Leona Shuda of Rice Lake, WI, Celia Laustad of Redington Beach, FL and Kathryn Berger of Superior, WI; two brothers: Dan Fritz of Parump, NV and Arthur Erickson of Plymouth, MN; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.    He was preceded in death by his son, Bruce Fritz; his granddaughter, Julie Fritz; a sister, Florence and a brother, Robert. Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Monday, March 19, 2018 at the Grace Community Church in Osage with Rev. Paul McKibben officiating. The casket bearers will be: John Fritz, William Fritz III, William Fritz IV, Marvin James II, Brian Christenson, Bryce James and Ted Curfman. The honorary casket bearers will be: William Fritz II, Mary Shuda, Brent “Bud” Fritz, Bob Fritz, Beverly Aakus and Rudy Borntragar. Interment will be made next to his wife, Eva in the Riverside Cemetery at Osage, MN. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM Sunday, March 18 at the Grace Community Church and will continue on Monday beginning one hour prior to the service at the church. Following the service, a luncheon will be hosted by the Grace Community Church family.    To leave on line condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com