Janice ‘Jan’ Fritz 1946 - 2020

FRITZ, MCELMEEL, SMITH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/25/2021 at 14:16:44

Sioux City Journal
6 January 2021

Janice ‘Jan’ Fritz

Sioux City -- Hello, I’m Janice Fritz. My friends call me Jan for short, because I’m short. I like to do puzzles, crafts, and read stories, so I’m going to try and tell you a story that God has been piecing together.

It began on Nov. 18, 1946. I was born to Robert and Zeta (McElmeel) Smith. We moved around a bit at first, but eventually settled in Sioux City. When I got older, I worked at my uncle Gene’s cleaning business to put myself through Heelan High School. It was in high school when I met the love of my life, a handy man- shoot, I mean handsome man-named Glen Fritz. You know what they say: “If she doesn’t find you handsome, at least she’ll find you handy!” Well, he was both. I graduated high school in ‘62 and then started working at Younkers running both the switchboard and the freight elevator. I ended up working there a few years...49 to be exact!

Back to Glen and I, we eventually tied the knot in September of ‘74. The next big part of our story was the birth of our first beautiful son, Allen, in ‘77. A couple of years later we had ourselves a handy-shoot! I mean handsome-son, Eric. My boys and the rest of my family mean everything to me. Especially my sister-in-law Bev, we sure had a lot of good times together.

All good things must come to an end, and when Glen passed away two years ago my heart was broken. I went to be with him in eternity on Dec. 26, 2020. But don’t worry, that’s not the end! I left a legacy with my sons, my “daughter” Lindsay (I call her my daughter, but she is married to my handy son, shoot-n-shine-ola! I did it again! Oh well, no time to start over!), and my two adorable grandsons whom I love with all of my heart. They can tell you some good stories, like Days of our Lives. That was my favorite story....

Anywho, if you’d like to meet them and share stories about me, they are having a celebration of life at Christy-Smith Funeral home (1801 Morningside Avenue) on Jan. 8. Visitation will start at 9:30, service at 10:30. As I always told my grandsons: “See you later, alligator!”