Ward
Ward B. Fritz
Ward Burton Fritz passed away Thursday, November 10, 2016 surrounded by his family at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo.
He was born August 24, 1928 in Allegan the son of Howard and Enola (Dailey) Fritz. Ward had been a member of Otsego First Baptist Church and had served as choir director and deacon and enjoyed singing with the Crusaders. He was currently a member of the Oakwood Bible Church in Kalamazoo. In his spare time Ward enjoyed deer hunting and photography. On February 16, 1948 he married Pauline Beldon-Brown at their home in Otsego. Together they enjoyed traveling on his Gold Wing motorcycle. Pauline preceded him in death on April 9, 1996.On December 12, 1997 at Oakwood Bible Church he married Betty (Geverink) Bayer who survives.
Also surviving are children, Douglas (Cathia) Fritz of Plainwell, Pamela (Bradley) Scott of Kalamazoo, Michael (Sandi) Fritz of Kalamazoo, Valerie (William) Orr of Augusta and Kimberly (Steven) Frost of Plainwell; step-daughter, Karen (Gary) Kortman of Kalamazoo; 7 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Rayma (Donald) Moore of Otsego along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Pauline and sister, Corky.
According to his wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may visit with Ward’s family starting at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the Oakwood Bible Church in Kalamazoo until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 with Pastor Steve Johnson officiating.
Burial of ashes will take place at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego at a later time.
Contributions in memory of Ward may be made to
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Ward B. Fritz
Condolence Messages
Tim and Marcia Quigley
November 11, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you! Please know that your father is now an Angel in Heaven watching over you!
Reply
Jim and Vicki Jackson
November 11, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fritz and Kortman families as well as the rest of the family. RIP Ward.
Reply
Steve and Becky Swope
November 11, 2016 at 4:18 pm
We always enjoyed any time we were able to spend with this man! Our prayers for his family.
Reply
Arch & Sandy Woodstock
November 11, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Oh, the memories – Ward would sing with my mom (Thelma) and Corky. How wonderful that sounded here on earth as they praised God in song, just imagine how wonderful it sounds NOW as they stand before the Throne of their Savior and sing! We will pray for you as you grieve the loss of Dad, Grandpa and just a great guy. He had a profound impact on my life and I will never forget that. He will be loved and remembered by many.
Reply
Renee Philmon (Rodney Philmon)
November 11, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Our deepest condolences to the entire Fritz family. Thinking about all of you and sending you our love.
Reply
BONNIBELLE Soltis
November 11, 2016 at 5:16 pm
My prayers are with the family. May our Heavenly Father wrap his arms around you.
Reply
Debbie (Thompson) Guina
November 12, 2016 at 8:31 am
I have so many wonderful memories of this dear man. I am truly blessed to have grown up in a small town and church family that allowed me to have godly men like Ward in my life. I spent so much time at the Fritz home with my best friend Valerie! I will cherish these memories forever, of seeing his smiling face, always with something sweet and kind to say to me.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers now, and in the days ahead.
So happy for Ward that he is rejoicing in heaven, being reunited with Polly, his family, his friends, including my mom and dad!
Reply
Alice Dawson
November 12, 2016 at 10:42 am
He loved the Lord! His love overflowed to include us little kids. My first awareness of him was the summer of ’74 as father to my new friends Kim and Val. His singing in the church sometimes with his sis, Mrs. Moore at the piano, allowed us to know our Savior like he did. He was kind and encouraged us along in our faith. Praise God for the Fritz and Moore families. May God bless and comfort you all at this time.
Reply
Wendy Hendricks Moyer
November 12, 2016 at 1:35 pm
My prayers are with the whole Fritz family. Ward and Polly were good neighbours and friends. I am so sorry for your loss. May the Lord be with you all.
Love, Wendy
Reply
Pat & Maggie Curtin
November 14, 2016 at 8:56 am
Val, Bill and Sean we are so very sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Maggie & Pat
Reply
Don
November 14, 2016 at 10:23 am
Dear Fritz family,
We want to send condolences to all the Fritz family. Ward was one special guy. My first remembrance of Ward was the High School production of the operetta Chonita where Ward was the lead character, Stefen and sang the beautiful tenor solos taken from one of the great classical composers which I can’t remember the name of. He was such a man of honor and you kids who survive him can be so proud of the great Christian he was and exemplify that in your lives. Thinking of all of you and praying for God’s wonderful comfort in the coming days. Joanne Chapman
Reply
Stephanie Feltenberger
November 15, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Dear family, I am so thankful to God that “we sorrow not as those who have no hope.” I know where he is and that I will see him again. I’m so thankful for his godly legacy. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Ed & Zarlene Main
November 19, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Our thoughts, prayers and a heartfelt hug to the Fritz family at this time of sorrow.
Reply
Kathy Loughead
November 23, 2016 at 9:00 am
Fritz Family: So sorry for your loss. Doug your Father was one of a kind. He had a blessed life. May your memories comfort you and your family.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
Email
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
Your Name
*
Your Email
*
Their Name
*
Their Email
*
Message
CAPTCHA
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Δ
He was born August 24, 1928 in Allegan the son of Howard and Enola (Dailey) Fritz. Ward had been a member of Otsego First Baptist Church and had served as choir director and deacon and enjoyed singing with the Crusaders. He was currently a member of the Oakwood Bible Church in Kalamazoo. In his spare time Ward enjoyed deer hunting and photography. On February 16, 1948 he married Pauline Beldon-Brown at their home in Otsego. Together they enjoyed traveling on his Gold Wing motorcycle. Pauline preceded him in death on April 9, 1996.On December 12, 1997 at Oakwood Bible Church he married Betty (Geverink) Bayer who survives.
Also surviving are children, Douglas (Cathia) Fritz of Plainwell, Pamela (Bradley) Scott of Kalamazoo, Michael (Sandi) Fritz of Kalamazoo, Valerie (William) Orr of Augusta and Kimberly (Steven) Frost of Plainwell; step-daughter, Karen (Gary) Kortman of Kalamazoo; 7 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Rayma (Donald) Moore of Otsego along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Pauline and sister, Corky.
According to his wishes cremation has taken place.
Friends may visit with Ward’s family starting at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the Oakwood Bible Church in Kalamazoo until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 with Pastor Steve Johnson officiating.
Burial of ashes will take place at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego at a later time.
Contributions in memory of Ward may be made to
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Ward B. Fritz
Condolence Messages
Tim and Marcia Quigley
November 11, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you! Please know that your father is now an Angel in Heaven watching over you!
Reply
Jim and Vicki Jackson
November 11, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fritz and Kortman families as well as the rest of the family. RIP Ward.
Reply
Steve and Becky Swope
November 11, 2016 at 4:18 pm
We always enjoyed any time we were able to spend with this man! Our prayers for his family.
Reply
Arch & Sandy Woodstock
November 11, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Oh, the memories – Ward would sing with my mom (Thelma) and Corky. How wonderful that sounded here on earth as they praised God in song, just imagine how wonderful it sounds NOW as they stand before the Throne of their Savior and sing! We will pray for you as you grieve the loss of Dad, Grandpa and just a great guy. He had a profound impact on my life and I will never forget that. He will be loved and remembered by many.
Reply
Renee Philmon (Rodney Philmon)
November 11, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Our deepest condolences to the entire Fritz family. Thinking about all of you and sending you our love.
Reply
BONNIBELLE Soltis
November 11, 2016 at 5:16 pm
My prayers are with the family. May our Heavenly Father wrap his arms around you.
Reply
Debbie (Thompson) Guina
November 12, 2016 at 8:31 am
I have so many wonderful memories of this dear man. I am truly blessed to have grown up in a small town and church family that allowed me to have godly men like Ward in my life. I spent so much time at the Fritz home with my best friend Valerie! I will cherish these memories forever, of seeing his smiling face, always with something sweet and kind to say to me.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers now, and in the days ahead.
So happy for Ward that he is rejoicing in heaven, being reunited with Polly, his family, his friends, including my mom and dad!
Reply
Alice Dawson
November 12, 2016 at 10:42 am
He loved the Lord! His love overflowed to include us little kids. My first awareness of him was the summer of ’74 as father to my new friends Kim and Val. His singing in the church sometimes with his sis, Mrs. Moore at the piano, allowed us to know our Savior like he did. He was kind and encouraged us along in our faith. Praise God for the Fritz and Moore families. May God bless and comfort you all at this time.
Reply
Wendy Hendricks Moyer
November 12, 2016 at 1:35 pm
My prayers are with the whole Fritz family. Ward and Polly were good neighbours and friends. I am so sorry for your loss. May the Lord be with you all.
Love, Wendy
Reply
Pat & Maggie Curtin
November 14, 2016 at 8:56 am
Val, Bill and Sean we are so very sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Maggie & Pat
Reply
Don
November 14, 2016 at 10:23 am
Dear Fritz family,
We want to send condolences to all the Fritz family. Ward was one special guy. My first remembrance of Ward was the High School production of the operetta Chonita where Ward was the lead character, Stefen and sang the beautiful tenor solos taken from one of the great classical composers which I can’t remember the name of. He was such a man of honor and you kids who survive him can be so proud of the great Christian he was and exemplify that in your lives. Thinking of all of you and praying for God’s wonderful comfort in the coming days. Joanne Chapman
Reply
Stephanie Feltenberger
November 15, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Dear family, I am so thankful to God that “we sorrow not as those who have no hope.” I know where he is and that I will see him again. I’m so thankful for his godly legacy. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Ed & Zarlene Main
November 19, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Our thoughts, prayers and a heartfelt hug to the Fritz family at this time of sorrow.
Reply
Kathy Loughead
November 23, 2016 at 9:00 am
Fritz Family: So sorry for your loss. Doug your Father was one of a kind. He had a blessed life. May your memories comfort you and your family.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
Your Name
*
Your Email
*
Their Name
*
Their Email
*
Message
CAPTCHA
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Δ
Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors