Douglas John

Fritsch

Douglas John Fritsch passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI, at the age of 76. A loving, principled, and compassionate person, Doug was a lifelong educator who championed civil equality and inspired generations of students with his intellectual curiosity. His dedication to understanding current events through the lens of history helped many appreciate perspectives beyond their own. It was his honor and delight to be a part of the Lake Mills High School community for 28 years.

The oldest of five children born to Harlan A. Fritsch and Mary Ann Fritsch (née Towell), Doug was born on March 7, 1947, in Milwaukee, WI. He graduated from Milwaukee Washington High School before receiving undergraduate and master's degrees in History from UW-Oshkosh.

Doug was a proud public servant. He was a member of the Lake Mills Public Works Board for 23 years. He served as a member of the Lake Mills City Council. He was a big supporter of the L. D. Fargo Public Library and a member of the Library Board. He was an advocate for equitable access to financial resources and served as Board Treasurer for the WEA Credit Union for 43 years, supporting teachers and their families across Wisconsin.

He married Diann Hosp Fritsch in 1978 in West Bend, WI, and they were married for over four decades. After meeting by chance at a Wisconsin teacher's union conference, they discovered their shared love for travel, gardening, music and civil service. They raised their family in Lake Mills and resided there with many beloved pets and flowers.

A loving and dedicated father and grandfather, he was known for his sweet wit, willingness to engage in long discussions, and love of esoteric facts. He is survived by his two children, Andrea Fritsch (Sam Withrow) and Brian Fritsch (Eveline Chang-Fritsch), granddaughters Zora and Olympia, grandson Quincy, and his siblings Tom Fritsch (Judy Fritsch), Marge Olsen (Tom Olsen), sister-in-law Kathy Fritsch, and many loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Diann Fritsch (née Hosp), sister Jane Fritsch, brother Daniel Fritsch, nephew Christopher Fritsch, and great-nephew Cameron Springer, aunt Harriet LaVies, and his parents, Harlan and Mary Ann.

An avid traveler and lover of culture, history, geography, and photography, Doug traveled far and wide. As a young man, he traveled to Northern India to climb the Himalayas, to Australia, to the USSR, and many National Parks and historic battlefields. With his wife and children, he shared a passion for exploring and photographing their adventures. On their many long car trips across the US and Canada, they enjoyed nature, learned about local history, and hiked to mountaintops and scenic views. Doug was fascinated with archeology and paleontology and spent several summers digging for fossils in Montana. In his retirement, his adventures intertwined with his love of family genealogy, following the trail of historic records through cities and towns across Europe. He visited many beautiful and fantastic places on six continents, including Antarctica.

His children will always know him as a patient and loving father who had time to discuss anything from complex political and social issues to the chance you might fly away on a windy day. He had a deep love for his family, for the community, and for the whole of humanity, and he passed this value and his goofy sense of humor on to his children. A final blessing from Doug to you: Live long and prosper.

A public memorial service will be held in the Community Room at the Lake Mills Municipal Building at 200 Water St., Lake Mills, WI 53551, on Sunday, December 3rd, at 2 PM. If interested in attending virtually, please contact Brian Fritsch at bhfritsch@gmail.com for details.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorial contributions can be made to the L. D. Fargo Public Library, Wisconsin Public Radio, or Community Shares. Online condolences may be left at www.claussen funeral home.com.