FRITZSCHE, Dr. Bertha Maude

FRITZSCHE, JOBST, PETRAS, IHDE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/13/2016 at 02:43:13

BIOGRAPHY of DR. BERTHA MAUDE FRITZSCHE
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Bertha Maude Fritzsche, daughter of Edward Frederick and Alice Jobst Fritzsche, was born on April 24, 1901, in Primghar, Iowa. She had two older brothers, Carl and Ernest, and a younger sister, Jessie. From an early age Bertha felt her vocation in life was to teach. In pursuit of her dream, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University in 1922. After completing her undergraduate degree, Fritzsche taught home economics in Humboldt, Iowa (1922-1925), then instructed vocational home economics in Savannah, Missouri (1925-1928). In 1928, she left Savannah to become head of the Department of Home Economics at Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa. The following year (1929), Fritzsche was awarded her Master of Science in Home Economics from Iowa State, and joined the home economics faculty at State Teachers College (now the University of Southern Mississippi).

In 1937, Miss Fritzsche was named the sixth head of the Department of Home Economics, following Loyette Webb's resignation from that position in December 1936. Coupled with her duties as a department head, she continued her education, and received her Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1950. Among her accomplishments as head of the Home Economics Department was the development of a Master of Arts degree in home economics in 1952. Dr. Fritzsche remained as chairman of the Home Economics Division until 1966, when she retired as Dean Emeritus.

During her career at USM, several honors were bestowed on Fritzsche. In 1963, the Mississippi Home Economics Association named her home economist of the year. In 1966, the same organization honored her with a certificate for life membership in recognition of her service in the field of home economics. Also in 1966, the Forrest County Chapter of the Home Economics Alumni Association honored Dr. Fritzsche with a "Bertha Maude Fritzsche Day" when the chapter established the "Bertha M. Fritzsche Graduate Fellowship," which is presented annually to an outstanding person working toward the master's degree in home economics. Two years later, the USM Alumni Association named her Distinguished Professor of the Year, and on October 24, 1969, during the homecoming ceremony at USM, the university honored Fritzsche by naming the home economics building for her. During her long teaching career, Dr. Fritzsche was involved in numerous organizations. Among them were Delta Kappa Gamma (honorary education society), Altrusa Club, Bueno Vecino Club, Mississippi Association of Home Economics, and the National Association of Home Economics.

After retiring, Fritzsche continued to teach graduate courses at USM until 1968 and instructed home economics equipment courses at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi from 1969 until 1971, when she had the first of three hip replacement surgeries. After her first hip replacement, she continued to have difficulties, and in March 1975, she underwent a second hip operation. With no further complications, Fritzsche began to travel extensively and became involved in numerous organizations in the community such as, The American Association of Retired Persons, the Wesley Club at Parkway Heights Methodist Church, and the Arthritis Foundation.

Unfortunately, in 1986, Dr. Fritzsche had to undergo a third hip replacement. When she left the hospital, she was unable to care for herself. Consequently, she hired a sitter to assist her at home (i.e. cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, etc.). Throughout the year, her health rapidly declined, and on April 6, 1987, her doctor diagnosed her with hardening of the arteries. A few months later, Fritzsche's nieces, Lucille Petras and Doris Ihde, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, decided to move their aunt to a nursing home near them. Fritzsche left Hattiesburg on July 11, and arrived at the Friendship Haven Nursing Home in Fort Dodge five days later. She remained there until her death on Saturday, March 3, 1990.

Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, March 6, 1990, at Guardian Funeral Home in Primghar, Iowa. Coinciding with the service in Iowa, a memorial service was held in Fritzsche's honor at Danforth Chapel on the University of Southern Mississippi campus. At that time, faculty and friends gathered to remember Fritzsche's accomplishments at the University and in the community.

SOURCE: lib.usm.edu/legacy/archives/m289.htm?m289text.htm

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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