Donald Fritz

Donald Fritz, age 94, of Fonda, Iowa died Saturday, October 21, 2017 at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Fonda. Burial will be in the Cedar Cemetery in Fonda. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. The Mahaney Funeral Home in Fonda is in charge of the arrangements. He was born in Early, Iowa on January 28, 1923. Despite a lifelong affliction with polio, he lived a long and gratifying life. He was kind and charitable. He was intelligent, well read and conversant despite a minimal education due to events beyond his control. He contracted polio at the age of 9 months. He spent many months in treatment at the University of Iowa as a child. Sometimes family was present to support him and sometimes they could not be. He had a significant medical condition his whole life becomes of his polio, but did not treat it as a disability. He attended school in Fonda to the eighth grade when he had surgery and a lengthy convalescent period at the University of Iowa Hospital, forcing him to forego further education. However, he did not let this condition limit or define him. He chose to become a skilled welder under the tutelage of his father, Henry Fritz. There was literally nothing that Don or Henry could not fix with a welding torch. Many a catastrophic harvest for a local farmer was repaired when Don or Henry performed an emergency repair of a tractor, combine or wagon with their tools of trade. Sometimes he charged for his services and sometimes not. It made little difference to him. He helped in many local activities that others did not know about. He served on the Fire Department for 15 years despite his impairment. He procured wood for the pit barbeque for the Labor Day celebration. He fished in Minnesota, Iowa, and Canada with his friend, Roy Stauter and others for a good part of his adult life. He did not let his condition stop him from doing the things he enjoyed with others. He was said to be able to do more with less whether working with his own body or scrap metal. He lived humbly in his small house in Fonda almost his whole life from the time of the depression to the end of his life. He helped a brother financially through school though his own means were modest. He was truly a great man and he will be missed and loved always by family and friends. He is survived by his sisters, Alice Williams and Marci Boland; brothers, Norman (Sylvia) Fritz and Wes (Marg) Fritz; nieces and nephews: Renard (Karen) Fritz, Roark Fritz, Denny (Jean) Bramble, Timothy (Pam) Bramble, Tari (Steve) Waterman, Greg (Jane) Fritz, Brent Fritz, Maralyn (Ron) McLaughlin, Diane (Steve) Hamilton, Debi (Don) Spaulding, Dennis (Monica) Williams, David (Jenny) Williams, Kris Blunt; many great nieces and nephews; extended family and friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lester (Edythe) Fritz; brothers-in-law, Arthur Williams and Jim Boland; and nephews: Rhett Fritz, Dusty Holmgaard, and Eddie Bramble.

Donald Fritz

January 28, 1923 - October 21, 2017