Winifred Caroline Fritz

Winifred Caroline Fritz, age 95, of Brighton, Iowa, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 14, 2026, surrounded by her loving family under the care of hospice.

Born on October 4, 1930, in rural Salem, Iowa, Winifred was the daughter of Harry A. and Genevieve (Pauly) Moeller. She married Robert A. Fritz on August 16, 1950, in Houghton, Iowa, and they shared 61 loving years together until his death on January 1, 2012. After attending Houghton Catholic School through eighth grade, she worked as a nanny for her aunt until her marriage.

Winifred spent many years working alongside her husband on the family farm, where they milked cows, raised pigs and chickens, and tended a large garden that she preserved each year through canning and freezing. A longtime member of St. Joseph & Cabrini Catholic Church and the Altar & Rosary Society, she found deep joy in her family, baking, listening to old-time country and polka music, playing cards, and creating beautiful crafts with her grandchildren. She lovingly quilted for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and sewed hundreds of lap quilts for nursing home residents.

She is survived by her eight children: Joe (Lori) and Tony (Lynn) Fritz of Brighton, Iowa; Jane (Virgil) Symmonds, Greg (Deb) Fritz, and Mary (Joel) Boatright of Fairfield, Iowa; Lucy (Matt) Dietzman of Keosauqua, Iowa; Chip (Debi) Fritz of Sigourney, Iowa; and Rita (Tim) Berry of Missouri; 17 grandchildren, Michael, Julia, Sophia, Dawn, Rachel, Nolan, Sarah, Trisha, J.D., Bridget, Brendan, Malcolm, Andrew, Nathan, Jesse, Isaac, and Megan; 19 great-grandchildren with two on the way; one great-great-grandchild; five step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her infant son Jerome, her son-in-law Marty Stecker, two sisters, Rose Marie Wickencamp and Kathleen Spiesz, and three brothers, Harry Jr., Francis, and Herb Moeller.