Obituaries : Lester Fritz

WALKER: Lester Richard Fritz, 93, died Saturday, May 4, 2013 at St. Luke's Hospital of injuries suffered in an ATV accident.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Urbana with Father Ardel Barta as Celebrant.Interment will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery near Urbana with Graveside Military Rites conducted by the Ray American Legion Post #376 of Walker and the Cedar Valley Marine Corp League in Cedar Rapids.Public Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at the church in Urbana where a Scripture Service will begin at 8 PM.

Lester was born May 26, 1919 in Cedar Rapids to Albert Cleveland and Anna Margaret (Ockenfels) Fritz.

During World War II he served his nation in the U.S. Marine Corp.He was a member of the Ray American Legion Post 376 of Walker, the Cedar Valley Marine Corp League and the V.F.W..Lester was honored to have been a member of the Honor Flight Program to Washington.

Lester was a farmer prior to his retirement.

On February 23, 1952 he was united in marriage to Zelma Hein at Iowa City.She preceded him in death.He married Louise Eggerstedt Moore on August 16, 1969 at Iowa City.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Louise Fritz of rural Walker; his daughters, Joan (Bob) Jindrich of West Branch and Marjorie (William) McVey of Galesburg, IL; his sons, Michael (Esmeralda) Moore of Chicago, and Merrill (Carol) Moore of Vinton; eleven grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and his sister, Berniece Duello of Vinton, Dorothy Erland of Branson, MO, Geniveve Hall of Cedar Rapids; Viola Smith of Urbana, and Alberta Fabela of California.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Edwin Fritz and his brothers, Melvin and Ronald Fritz.

A memorial fund has been established for the Honor Flight Program and the Cedar Valley Marine Corp League.

Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left at:www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com