Edward F. Fritzel

Edward F. Fritzel, 81, of Watauga, Texas, formerly of Galesburg, died Sunday, September 30, 2007 at Hospice Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas. Ed was born on April 16, 1926 in Chicago, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Schober Fritzel. He married Joanne Hoben on June 26, 1948 in Galesburg. Surviving Ed are: his wife, Joanne of Watauga, TX; 4 sons, Tony (Debbie) of Galesburg, Michael (Paula), Jim (Diane), Patrick (Diana) all of Keller, Texas; 3 daughters, Barbara (Michael) Linnenburger of Fort Worth, TX, Anne (Brad) Meerfeld of Mesa, AZ, Carol (Mark) Lohmar of Muncie, IN; 17 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Joseph (Shirley) of Fountain Hills, AZ; 2 sisters, Ann Messerschmidt of Elmhurst and Emma Fritzel of Fountain Hills, AZ. Ed served in the US Army from 1944 to 1946. He was a switchman and yardmaster for Burlington Northern for 36 years, retiring in 1985. He was a 3rd and 4th degree member of Father J.O. Hunt Council 556, Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Coulter-Freeman Men’s Choir at Carl Sandburg College and was active in Cursillo. He spent many years volunteering and singing at Nursing Homes, and received the WIAAA Ageless Achiever Award in 2003. He was a lifelong member of St. Patrick’s Church and sang in the choir. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 6, 2007 at St. Patrick’s Church, with Rev. Bruce King, officiating. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday at Watson Funeral Home, with the rosary at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, with military rites by Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285 Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick’s Church, Universal Hospice, Fort Worth, Texas, and St. Vincent DePaul Society.