Surnames: Fritsch, Yonker, West, Gundlach, Sapinski, Bessac, Plockelman, Keene

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Tue, Jun 28, 2005

Fritsch, James R. (18 Feb. 1926 - 22 June 2005)

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CADOTT -James R. Fritsch, 79, of Cadott died Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at the Mineral Point Care Center in Mineral Point.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2005, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Cornell with the Rev. Jeremiah Cashman officiating. Burial with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Dorchester Cemetery, Dorchester.

Loved ones may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with an 8 p.m. Vigil Prayer service, Friday at the Leiser Funeral Home in Cadott.

Jim was born Feb. 18, 1926, in Spencer to John F. and Anna L. (Yonker) Fritsch. He married Joyce L. West on June 14, 1952, at the Church of St. Mary in Kingston. Following their marriage they have lived in Mineral Point, Stevens Point, Plover, Highland, Lake Holcombe and Cadott.

He attended Spencer High School. His undergraduate teaching degree was obtained at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, graduating in 1952. He received his master's in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison for administration.

Jim was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Lions Club past president. As a Lions member for several years, he was instrumental in founding the Lions Camp for the Blind in Plover/Whiting and was also a part of the creation of Lake Pacawa in Plover. He was published in the Who's Who in American Education as a leader in education. One of his passions was reading. One of his favorite tasks was to figure out someone's taxes. One of his most frustrating moments was when someone's bookkeeping didn't figure out right for him. He would spend hours trying to get it to balance. One of his biggest concerns was how the education system changed since he was in it.

Jim is survived by his sons, John J. (Kris M.) of West Bend and Joseph T. (Barbara) of Chippewa Falls; daughter, Anna Marie (Brad) Gundlach of Highland; grandchildren, Ashley, John, Autumn, Jared, Nicholas, Austin and Alexa; great-grandchildren, Camryn Sapinski and Morgan Ann Fritsch; a brother, Robert E. (Deborah) Fritsch of Sun Prairie; a sister-in-law, Ruth Bessac of Dalton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; parents; grandson, Jacob Gundlach; brothers and sisters-in-law, John, Lawrence and Cecilia Fritsch, Emery and Lois Fritsch, Floyd, Myron and Evelyn Fritsch, Ted and Pat Fritsch; sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and George Plockelman; three nephews, Jon, Lee and and Patrick Fritsch; a niece, Priscilla Keene; father and mother-in-law, Ben and Mary West; brothers-in-law, Leroy West and Harold Bessac; and sister-in-law, Muriel West.

The children of James and Joyce Fritsch would like to thank all of the friends, neighbors and relatives who have been there to help our parents through the rough times and were there when they celebrated the good times. Our prayers, thoughts and gratitude go out to all of you for all you have done for Jim and Joyce and us.