Thomas W. Fritz

Thomas W. Fritz, age 89, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, died Friday, November 10, 2006 at Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Mt. Carroll. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 14 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Reverend Mark Harkness of the Mt. Carroll Methodist Church will officiate. Visitation will be held from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, at the Funeral Home, prior to the service. Memorials may be made in Tom's name for the Good Samaritan Nursing Home or FHN Hospice.
Tom was born March 12, 1917 in Freedom Township, the son of Ward and Ethel (Williamson) Fritz. He was raised on the family farm. He is a graduate of the Mt. Carroll High School with the Class of 1935. On May 2, 1942, Tom married F. Virginia Moore.

Tom farmed all of his life. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and was an avid golfer. He liked to watch the Chicago Cubs and Bears on TV. In his younger years, Tom was known as one of the area's top softball pitchers. He also was an umpire for many local baseball and softball games.

Tom was a charter member of the Mt. Carroll Lion's Club. As a Lion's Club member he was proud to be involved in the acquisition of land that was later donated to the Mt. Carroll School District for their athletic field.

Tom will be dearly missed by his wife, Virginia Fritz of Mt. Carroll; four sons, Jerry (Lynne) Fritz of Galesburg, Illinois, James (Mickey) Fritz of Shannon, Illinois, Jack Fritz of Mt. Carroll and Larry (Christy) Fritz of Mt. Carroll; eight grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and a brother, Ronald Fritz of Mt. Carroll. Tom is preceded in death by both parents and a sister, Ruby Stiles.