Robert Fritz

Robert "Bob" Fritz of Fergus Falls died peacefully in his bed on Tuesday at the age of 91.

Bob was born in 1932 in the area of St. Cloud, MN to Carl and Loretta (Cremers) Fritz. He was a survivor of polio and grew to enjoy outdoor activities and photography. In 1952, he married Marlene Pull of St. Cloud and started a family. In 1962, a business opportunity brought him to Fergus Falls where he opened a film developing department inside of a local department store, Johnson Drug. He eventually opened the Photo Center in downtown Fergus Falls and operated it for many years.

A proud lifelong Republican, Bob campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 1964 and won over a number of voters in the area with his enthusiasm. After living in Fergus Falls with his family for about ten years, he built a home on nearby Long Lake. The lake housed a speedboat for waterskiing, a small sailboat, and a pontoon airplane. Bob dabbled in real estate and business financing before retiring. He split with Marlene in the late 1980s and began a life as an RV enthusiast. He spent many years driving across the country and basing himself in Texas and Arizona. In 2021, Bob moved to Wisconsin with his daughter Mary and son-in-law Gordon, and in 2023, Bob came back to live in Fergus Falls. Throughout his life, Bob carried on the family tradition of playing the card game Cribbage and was a loyal Vikings football fanatic.

Bob was preceded in death by his siblings, Jacqueline, Charles (radio personality “Steve Hunter”), and Thomas; his children, Charles, Janice, and Charlotte; his son-in-law, Michael Karsnia; his grandchildren, Ryan, Adam, and Louis; and his great-grandchild, Wesley.  He is survived by his sister Maureen; seven daughters, Deb Karsnia of Erhard, Cathie (Mark) Helland of Fergus Falls, Joyce Fritz (Don Kraft) of Green Bay, WI, Liz (Denny) Miller of Collinsville, IL, Marti Carlson (Eric Anderson) of Spicer, MN, Mary (Gordon) Thomas of Mayville, WI, and Patty Jensen of New London, MN; seven children, fourteen grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com