Marz, Fritz R.

Fritz R. Marz, 87, of Homestead, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at Colonial Manor of Amana. Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at Middle Amana Community Church, Middle Amana, with Elder Alan Trumpold officiating. Burial will be in Homestead Cemetery, with military honors. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Middle Amana Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

Fritz is survived by his wife, Ellen May; a son, Gene Marz (Deb) of Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Geri Marz (Lu Zoller) of Portland, Ore.; two grandchildren, Corey Urbanek (Bryce) of Kearney, Neb., and Jake Marz of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and a brother, Louis Marz (Caroline) of Homestead.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Dittrich.

Fritz Rudolph Marz was born March 24, 1925, in Homestead, Iowa, the son of John Jacob Marz and Henriette Kolb Marz. Fritz served in the U.S. Army for three years, from 1943-46, stationed in the China, Burma and India Theatre. He returned to Amana and graduated from Amana High School in 1947. Fritz married Ellen May Leichsenring on Sept. 12, 1948, in a Homestead garden wedding. He was employed with the Amana Society Telephone Departments, the South Amana Bakery, and in November 1955, went to work with Amana Refrigeration until his retirement 35 years later. Fritz was a member of the Homestead Volunteer Fire Department for many years and the Homestead Welfare Club. He also managed the Amana Cemeteries for 42 years.

Fritz enjoyed photography, and he spent many hours in his woodworking shop.

The family would like to extend a very sincere thank you to the entire staff of Colonial Manor for their wonderful support over the past 3 1/2 years.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Published Sept. 26, 2012 in The Gazette