Sylvester Edward Fritz

Sylvester Edward Fritz

Brighton

Sylvester Edward Fritz, 92, passed away peacefully at his home on February 4, 2024. He was born on the family farm near Brighton, IA to Michael Edward and Gertrude Elizabeth Arndt Fritz on December 4, 1931. He attended Burr Oak country school and graduated from Brighton High School in 1950. In early 1952, he began his service with the U.S. Marine Corps where he was a Corporal at the El Toro Air Station near Santa Ana, CA. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Iowa and began to work at Iowa Malleable & Iron Company in Fairfield, IA in the fall of 1953 until the plant closed in 1993.

On April 25, 1959 he married Janet Strabala at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hills, IA. They lived in the Brighton area, moving to their farm south of Brighton in 1960 where they had remained since. Sylvester and Janet were married 63 years when she died in 2023.

Sylvester was a devoted husband and father working tirelessly to provide a good life for his family. This included building a new home in the late 1960s and always having a large vegetable garden. He was a life-long member of Ss. Joseph and Cabrini Catholic Parish in East Pleasant Plain and was proud to be an Iowa farmer, raising hogs, corn and soybeans. He loved being with his family, especially visits from his grandchildren, tractors, the outdoors, long summer days, homemade pies and ice cream.

He is survived by his children Jeanette (Dennis) Corpman of Hills, Janice Bobmanuel of Katy TX, Victor (Angela) Fritz of Brighton, Joyce Fritz of Marion, Katherine (Chris) Fray of Little Rock AR, Paul Fritz of Brighton, and Carol Mills of Kalona. Additionally, he is survived by his 12 grandchildren: Jonathan (Sarah) and Jordan (Ashley) Corpman; Loliya, Ambi, and Ekine Bobmanuel; Brianna, Susan, Thomas, Mary, John and Hanna Fritz and Allison (Zach) Davis; and 4 great-grandchildren: Siena and Caiden Corpman; Eleanor and Clare Davis; and 2 sisters-in-law: Winifred Fritz and Beverly Fritz.

Sylvester was preceded in death by his wife, parents, 3 sisters: Alice (Bernard) Redlinger, Marian (John) Redlinger, Loretta (Melvin) Schneider, 5 brothers: Robert, Walter (Donna), Richard (infant), John (JoAnn), Cletus, son-in-law Mike Mills, and granddaughter Sarah Mary Corpman.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Pleasant Plain with Rev. Robert Lathrop officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. A Rosary will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 9 at the church, followed with visitation until 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery or to the Brighton Volunteer Fire Fighters Association in Sylvester’s honor. These gifts may be left at the church or mailed to the family at 1173 Spruce, Brighton, Iowa 52540. The family wishes to thank Hospice Compassus for their care and support during this difficult time. Gould Funeral Home of Brighton is in charge of arrangements.