Fr. FritzA funeral Mass for Father Peter Fritz was celebrated Sept. 14 at Blessed Angela Chapel at Felician Village in Manitowoc, Wis. Father Fritz died Sept. 10 at St. Mary’s Home at the Felician Village. He was 95 and a Franciscan friar of the Sacred Heart Province.
Bernard Fritz was born on June 26, 1924, in Chaska, Minn., to Bernard Fritz and Margaret (Huber) Fritz. He was received into the Franciscan community as a novice on July 2, 1943, receiving the name Peter Baptist. He professed solemn vows on July 3, 1947, and was ordained a priest on June 25, 1950, in Teutopolis, Ill., by Bishop William A. O’Connor.
Father Fritz began his priestly ministry serving as a pastoral associate. While continuing to serve in various parishes, he was also chaplain to the Poor Clare Nuns in St. Louis. In 1966, Father Fritz began a long career as the chaplain of Veteran’s Administration Hospital in St. Louis, where he served for 24 years. He then was a pastor in Ruston and Calhoun, La. He moved to Crowley, Texas, and resided at the Franciscan Village. There, he helped out in various parishes. He retired in 2009 and resided at Our Lady of Angels Friary in Sherman, Ill. He moved to Blessed Giles Friary in Manitowoc in 2012. Due to failing health, he moved to St. Mary’s Home at the Felician Village in 2018.
Father Fritz is survived by siblings Philip Fritz of Alexandria, Va.; Dr. David Fritz of Lakewood, Colo.; Philomena Hesse of Hopkins, Minn.; and Kay Fritz-Copper of Cantonment, Fla. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Manitowoc.