Bio: Fritz, Walter – 90th Birthday (24 Sep 1976)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Fritz, Roney, Kaduce, Smith

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 22 Sep 1976

Walter Fritz, who will be 90 years young on Friday, September 24, 1976, is a longtime resident and farmer of the Owen-Withee area, having lived here since 1911.

Mr. Fritz was born in Benton, Pennsylvania on September 24, 1886. His family was of Welsh decent and had migrated from England before the Revolutionary War. His father, who died when Walter was only three years of age, was a farmer.

As a young man, Walter moved to Swale Dale, Iowa, to work out as a hired man, and on threshing crews. In 1909, on June 24, he married the former Belle Roney, who passed away last year. In 1911, Belle and Walter moved to Owen, and began farming, which he continued until recently.

The couple had six children. The first was Eva Kaduce, now Decease, Elton, who is a retired farmer in the Owen area, Loraine, who is now the postmaster of the Withee Post Office, Earl, who was killed in World War II, Polly Smith, manager of the DHIA office in Colby, and Allen, who is an electrical engineer in Milwaukee.

Mr. Fritz served as a member of the school board for 25 years before the district was consolidated in the 1960’s.

He was a member of the Black River Rod and Gun Club for many years, and he joined and has been a member of the Masonic Lodge since the 1930’s.

Mr. Fritz is still very active and has his own big garden each year. This week he is canning tomatoes. He lives with his son-in-law on the farm, and together they keep house, cook, wash clothes, and do their own shopping.

When the sap is running and the syrup is boiled, Walter is right their helping his son, Loraine cut the wood, and make the maple syrup each season. When Loraine goes into the woods, his father is eager to go along.

So Happy Birthday Walter, and many more to come.