Ronald Raymond Fritz

Ronald Raymond Fritz, 95, of Mount Carroll, Illinois, died July 9, 2019 at the Carroll County Good Samaritan Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Mount Carroll. Ronald was born April 13, 1924 in Freedom Township, the son of Ward and Ethel (Williamson) Fritz. He was a graduate with the Mt. Carroll High School Class of 1942.

In his younger days, Ronald was a star pitcher on local area fast pitch softball teams. He played with the 1949 Carroll County Rural Youth State Champion Fast Pitch boys softball team. On November 26, 1952, Ronald married Helen Kingery in the Mt. Carroll United Methodist Church parsonage. They shared 60 years together until Helen’s death in 2013.

Ronald was a successful and dedicated farmer his entire life. His lifelong passion was farming. His early years of farming included raising feeder cattle and grain farming. Through the years, he grew his farming operation, and grew corn and soybeans exclusively. There was always work to be done!

When Ronald did take some time off, he enjoyed following the Cubs and local sports. Together with Helen in their later years, they resumed square dancing, and they took many farm-related travel vacations, including a 21-day trip to South America.

Survivors include two sons, Stanley Fritz and Rodney (Cheri) Fritz; daughter, Roxann (Gerald) Specht; and five grandchildren: Austin Fritz, Casey Fritz, Andrew (Adrienne) Specht, Mark (Rachel) Specht, and Elizabeth Specht.

Ronald was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, his brother, Thomas Fritz, his sister, Ruby Stiles, and his daughter-in-law, Linda Fritz.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will take place from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Ronald’s memory to the Mount Carroll United Methodist Church.