Donald E. Fritz

Donald Ervin Fritz was born March 29, 1929, the son of Benedict and Emma Fritz. He passed away Friday, November 27, 2015, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa at the age of eighty-six.
Donald was born in Denison, Iowa. He received his education in the Arion and Deloit Community Schools, receiving his GED in 1972, and moved with his family to Deloit in 1937. After completing his education he work as a carpentry assistant for Bill Smith before going to work for the railroad. Shortly after that he entered the United State Army in April 1946, serving as switchboard operator at a hospital in Japan. After receiving his honorable discharge in September of 1947, Donald returned to Crawford County and went back to work for the Illinois Central Railroad. He also worked for the Chicago Pacific and Canadian National as a track inspector and foreman. On February 4, 1952, Donald was united in marriage to Alma Mathias at the Zion Lutheran Parsonage in Denison by Rev. C.W. Schmidt. The couple made their home in Deloit and were blessed with the birth of three sons.
In his leisure time Donald enjoyed gardening, fishing, watching John Wayne Westerns and wrestling. He also enjoyed socializing with friends, playing cards with his brothers and sisters, playing Bingo, and for several years he called Bingo. Donald and Alma enjoyed traveling to Kentucky, West Virginia, several of the western states and during the summer they enjoyed their trailer in Okoboji. He served on the City Council and as the Mayor of Deloit. He was also a Boy Scout Leader for five years.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Raymond; two brothers, Leonard and Edward; and four sisters, Leona, Dorothy, Luella and Lorraine. Survivors include: his wife, Alma; two sons, Mike and Dave; two granddaughters, Emily and her friend, Josh, and Erin; one sister, Lois; other relatives and friends.