Pat Fritz was born on October 29, 1928 in Glenwood, Minnesota to Allen and Helen Cheesemen Hess. Pat grew up in Granite Fall, MN and graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1946. Following graduation the family moved to Tracy, MN where they owned and operated the Tracy Bakery.
On August 28th 1949 she and James “Jim” Fritz were married in Currie, MN. Following their marriage they made their home in Windom, MN for a short time before moving to Walnut Grove, MN. Together they owned and operated the Tracy and Walnut Grove Bakeries. They later moved to a home on Lake Shetek near Slayton, MN. They retired in 1984 and in 2004 they moved to Tracy. In 2006 they moved to Walnut Grove to be near family. Jim passed away on February 18, 2007. Pat remained in Walnut Grove until 2009 when she moved to St. Johns Nursing Home in Springfield, MN. Pat passed away there on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the age of 90 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Pat enjoyed wood carving, hunting for arrowheads and collecting and selling antiques.
Survivors include her three children Mike and Sue Fritz of Currie, MN, JoAnn and Jeff Bertschi of Walnut Grove, MN, and Jill and Ken Kaduce of Winnebago, MN, seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, Jim Nelson of Tower, MN.
She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Phil Hess and one sister, Jacque Nelson.
A private family graveside services will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at the Calvary Cemetery in Currie, MN with a celebration of Pat’s life at Painted Prairie Vineyard in rural Currie, MN at 12:00 p.m. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton, MN is entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com