Jean "Jeanne" Viola (Schlender) Fritz

Jean “Jeanne” V. Fritz, age 90 of Caroline passed away at her daughter’s home under hospice care on Thursday afternoon, April 28, 2022.

Jean Viola Schlender was born on November 19, 1931 in the Town of Emmet, Dodge County as the daughter of the late Andrew and Louise (Koplin) Schlender. She grew up in the Marion area and graduated Marion High School with the Class of 1949. Jeanne started working for FWD in Clintonville in 1953 and was united in marriage to George A. Fritz, Jr. on August 18, 1956 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marion. In 1975 Jeanne quit working at FWD and began working full time with her husband at the Marion Rec Bar and Bowling Alley. George preceded his wife in death on January 18, 2000 and Jeanne retired from working at the bowling alley in 2005. A few years after George passed Jeanne met Curtis Clifford and the couple spent many great years together. They loved to travel through Curtis’ job at Pierce Manufacturing and couldn’t wait to get to Sun City, AZ each winter where they made many new friends. Curtis also preceded Jeanne in death in August of 2019. As odd as it may sound, Jeanne absolutely loved to clean. It quite possibly stemmed from her servant heart. Jeanne was also a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Caroline where she served on the Altar Guild. She liked watching football and always seemed to be running places with her children and grandchildren. Faith and family were everything to Jeanne and she certainly will be missed.

Survivors include: 
Her Children: Mike (Linda) Fritz, Curt (Cheryl) Fritz, and Kristy (George) Crum.
Grandchildren: Zachary (Kayla) Fritz, Indy (Amber Anderson) Fritz, Cole Crum, McKenna (Kyle) Kriewaldt, Bailee Fritz, & Mack Fritz.
Great-Grandchildren: Ella Fritz, Addison Fritz, Kaisen & Kalen Kriewaldt, Emerson Crum, and Cameron Severinsen.
Brothers: Chester (Carol) Schlender & Dennis “PeeWee” Schlender.
Brothers-in-law: Willis Fritz & Duane Fritz.
Sisters-in-law: Phyllis Goltz & Janet Fritz.
Nieces: Heidi (Tim) Barrington & Tracy (Tim) Laux.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, husband George Fritz, Jr., fiancé Curtis Clifford, extended family Dora & Les Schlender, and brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law Floyd Fritz, Doug Fritz, Ardellis (John) Draeger, Joan Fritz, & Rose Fritz, and by her mother-in-law & father-in-law George (Sadie) Fritz, Sr. 

Jeanne’s funeral service will be held Friday May 6, 2022 at 4 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church in Caroline with Rev. Craig Nehring officiating. Interment will be at the church cemetery also in Caroline, and a meal will follow the burial at Northwinds Banquet Hall in Marion. A Celebration of Jean's life will follow the meal. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 2 PM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated for the Zion Cemetery Fund and Mama’s House of Hope in Marion. Jeanne’s family would also like to extend their gratitude to ThedaCare at Home Hospice for the loving care she received from their entire staff. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Marion is assisting her family. www.eberhardtstevenson.com.