Francis “Fritz” M. Possehl

Francis “Fritz” M. Possehl

Springville

Francis “Fritz” Myron Possehl, 89, of Springville, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at ProMedica Care Nursing Home (ManorCare) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Burial to follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Francis “Fritz” Possehl, under the video tab starting at 11:00 on Friday, March 24, 2023.

Francis was born on June 5, 1933, in Elkader, Iowa, the son of Oscar and Evelyn Possehl. His childhood days were spent on his parents’ farm and going to country grade school. He graduated from Elkader High School, Class of 1951. Francis served in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1956 and served aboard the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier.

After high school he worked with his father, who quit farming and started the Iowa Terrazzo Floor Company. In 1952, they moved the business to Cedar Rapids and operated it until 1973. He then went to work at F.M.C. Corp., working as an assembler and machinist. From there he went into the window business working for J.J. Grundy and Hometown Restyling. Later he started his own business, Alpha Windows and Siding. He eventually retired from the window business in the early 2000s.

Francis was united in marriage to Helen Theresa Barton on Aug. 18, 1956, at St. Wenceslaus Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Together they raised their three sons on their farm outside of Springville on County Home Road and eventually moved into town in 1999.

Francis was very involved in his community; he was a proud member of El Kahir Shrine Club, where he and his dad were both active in the foot patrol. He was a member of Springville Lodge No. 139., Daytime Lodge No. 671 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Cedar Rapids Consistory, and the Springville American Legion. Francis had many friends and enjoyed the time he spent with them and his family. He loved taking trips to the family cabin in Harpers Ferry where they would spend time fishing on the Mississippi River. He is fondly remembered by his family as the best/worst joke teller, and he loved taking pictures of them all despite the fact that his skills were lacking at best. His most famous quotes were “You got any money honey.” And always yelling “Grandpa’s Here!” when he walked in the door. He was known by many of his fellow Shriner friends as the “The Onion Man” because he enjoyed doing the door-to-door onion sales for the Shrine Club and sold them by the truckload to his friends and family.

He is survived by two of his sons, Rick Possehl of Cedar Rapids; and John Possehl of Central City; his granddaughters, Brittany, Kasi (Cameron), and April; and three great grandchildren.

Francis was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his oldest son, Randy; his parents, and his two sisters, Jeanette and Barbara.

The family would like to thank the staff at ProMedica Care Nursing Home (Manor Care) and St. Croix Hospice for the great care given to Fritz.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the family.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.