MEYERHOFER, Wilfred Lawrence "Fritz" 1918-2007

MEYERHOFER, KRAMER, BASSLER

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 9/16/2007 at 22:39:43

A Memorial Mass for Wilfred Lawrence "Fritz" Meyerhofer, 89, of Osage, Iowa, was held at on Monday, September 10, 2007, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage, with Msgr. John Hemann officiating. Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Visitation Cemetery in Stacyville.

Fritz died on Friday, September 7, 2007, at the Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. He was surrounded by his wife, Anna, and many of his children.

Fritz was born on August 24, 1918, at Stacyville, Iowa, the son of John and Ida (Kramer) Meyerhofer. He was the third of 13 children, two of whom died at birth. Wilfred attended the Visitation School at Stacyville up to 8th grade. After that, he took a correspondence course in refrigeration and heating.

Fritz married Anna Marie Bassler on August 12, 1942, at St. Columbkille's Church in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, serving as a refrigeration mechanic, until his honorable discharge as a sergeant in December 1945. Following his military discharge, he was employed at Iowa Engineering Co. in Dubuque, until 1954. At this time, he and his family moved to Stacyville to operate the family farm, where he and Anna raised their 13 children. In 1980, they retired and moved with their youngest daughters, Judy and Elayne, to Osage. For the past 25 years, he and Anna wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona. Fritz was a long-time member of Visitation Church in Stacyville.

In Osage, he was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, a talented builder and craftsman. Wilfred was known for his good humor, quick wit and graciousness.

He was preceded in death by two of his sons, Wilfred Jr. and Philip; by his parents; by his sister Genevieve; and by his brothers: Ambrose, Clem, and Marcellus.

Wilfred is survived by his wife Anna, Osage; by his sons: Thomas (Ali), Farmington, Minnesota; Russell (Yvonne), Pueblo, Colorado; Anthony (Jane), Leesburg, Virginia; David (Brenda), Riceville, Iowa; Allen, Austin, Minnesota; Don (Bernie), Osage; and Kevin (Cyndy), Stacyville, Iowa; by his daughters: Sandra (John) Almgren, Kremmling, Colo.; Sheila (Monte) North, Osage; Judy (Bob) Picknell, Rio Rancho, New Mexico; and Elayne (Kevin) Eckel, Huxley, Iowa; and by 29 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters: Martha Beland, Stacyville; Dolores Von Feldt, Austin, Minnesota, Sr. Virginia, Dubuque; Sr. Nila, Melrose Park, Illinois; Sr. Nona, Morton, Mississippi, and by a brother, Vern (Mary) Meyerhofer, Racine, Minnesota.

Arrangements were made by Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home 641-732-3706.