Waltraut "Wallie" Fritsch

Rockford- Waltraut Ursel Erika Fritsch, 91, passed away on Friday, May 30, 2014. Known affectionately by everyone as "Wallie", she was born March 7, 1923 in Oldenburg, Germany, the daughter of Dietrich and Gertrud (Kampfe) Dirks. She came to America in 1924 and attended St. Paul Lutheran School through eighth grade and Rockford Central High until 1939 when she returned to Germany to visit relatives. Due to a missing passport stamp, she was forced to stay in Germany during WWII where she found work, met and married Willy E. Fritsch in 1943. She returned to Rockford in 1946. She worked at American Insurance Co. and later at Colorcraft, retiring in 1988. Wallie was a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She and Willy were founding members of the German Society of Rockford where they loved to waltz and polka. Wallie was even on the dance floor in her wheelchair at last year's Oktoberfest. Following the death of her husband, Wallie moved to Wesley Willows in 2006. She made many friends and joined in many activities. After she moved to the nursing center, her grandchildren took turns helping her still attend bingo. She went often to chapel, and every afternoon resident and staff could hear German music coming from her room. Wallie is survived by her brother, Gerhard Dirks of Pecatonica and her sister Genevieve (David) Hinman of California; her children, Charlotte (Ray) Ferguson, Beverly (Joseph) Lynde and William Fritsch; grandchildren, Valerie, Trent and Dana Ferguson, Jordan Lynde and Erika Fritsch; nieces Kim Dirks, Wendy (Scott) Irwin and their children, Sydney and Dylan; nephews, Lance Dauenbaugh, Richard and Brian Denzler and many relatives in Weimar and Oldenburg, Germany. She is predeceased by her husband, Willy in 2005 and sister Nora in 1969. "Deuces" Grams… we will miss you.
Funeral service Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 9:30 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 600 N. Horseman with Rev. Frank Ciprys officiating. Interment in Scandinavian Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, June 6, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Riverside Chapel 3910 N. Rockton Ave. and will continue on Saturday at church at 9 a.m. Donations may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the German Society of Rockford. To