Fritz Schlapbach, 85, of Albany, Wisconsin passed away on March 3, 2012 at Valley Park, an assisted living facility in Albany. Fritz was born on June 2, 1926 on the farm where Ingelside nursing home, Mt. Horeb is now located. He was the son of Adolf and Bertha (Stocker) Schlapbach who immigrated to America in 1923. Fritz was married to Viola Stuntz on November 8, 1946 in New Glarus. He is survived by his wife, Viola, daughters Pauline (Ray) Wyss and Darlene Schlapbach, his son John (Julie) Schlabach, a brother Adolph (Elsie) Bach, a sister Elizabeth Bongard, and sister in law Dorothy Schlapbach. Fritz's grandchildren are Becky (Kevin) Monte-Hayden, Tonya (Ken) Monte-Nelson, Micah (Sarah) Wyss, Katie (Brian) Kaetterhenry, Ryan Schlabach, Ellie (Joel) Kinzel, Tom, Kathleen, Fred, Jack, Christie, and Nick Schlabach, and great grandchildren Jared and Emma Monte-Hayden, Caleb & Isaac Wyss, Abby and Ethan Kaetterhenry, Mylie Monte-Nelson, step great grandchildren Kirstin & Kari Nelson, and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Fritz was preceded in death by his parents Adolf and Bertha Schlapbach, father & mother-in-law Frank & Dorothy Stuntz, his sister Margaret (in infancy), sister Ann Buchel, brother Hans Schlapbach, and sister-in-laws Helen Schlapbach, Irene Striker, Helen Luedy, Leona Weber, brothers-in-laws Victor Bongard, Joe Buchel, Ed Striker, Ralph Luedy, Gabe Weber, and Lloyd and Ivan Edwards.
Fritz farmed in the Mt. Horeb and the Brooklyn/Albany area for many years and was a salesman for Moorman Feed. He was a milk hauler, a semi driver for Hillside Transit, and was the founder and owner/operator of Albany Silo. In later years, he was a driver for a state auction service, Monroe Truck and for Kayser Ford.
Fritz was proud of his Swiss heritage and especially loved accordion music, enjoying the Swiss program on WEKZ and rarely missing an Accordion Jamboree. Fritz will be remembered for his love of life and his sense of humorHe enjoyed telling stories and jokes and giving away homemade gadgets, his favorite being a picture of his "Pride and Joy."
A special thank you to Lisa Anderson of Monroe Hospice, Pastor Pat Soddy and Dave Pluss of the Albany United Methodist Church and the staff at Valley Park for their thoughtful and loving care.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Albany United Methodist building fund or to Monroe Clinic Hospice.
Friends and family may call at a visitation at Shriner-Hager-Golke funeral home in Monroe on Monday, March 5, from 4 to 7 pm and services at the funeral home at 11 am on Tuesday, March 6. Burial in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Albany will immediately follow the funeral.
Fritz was preceded in death by his parents Adolf and Bertha Schlapbach, father & mother-in-law Frank & Dorothy Stuntz, his sister Margaret (in infancy), sister Ann Buchel, brother Hans Schlapbach, and sister-in-laws Helen Schlapbach, Irene Striker, Helen Luedy, Leona Weber, brothers-in-laws Victor Bongard, Joe Buchel, Ed Striker, Ralph Luedy, Gabe Weber, and Lloyd and Ivan Edwards.
Fritz farmed in the Mt. Horeb and the Brooklyn/Albany area for many years and was a salesman for Moorman Feed. He was a milk hauler, a semi driver for Hillside Transit, and was the founder and owner/operator of Albany Silo. In later years, he was a driver for a state auction service, Monroe Truck and for Kayser Ford.
Fritz was proud of his Swiss heritage and especially loved accordion music, enjoying the Swiss program on WEKZ and rarely missing an Accordion Jamboree. Fritz will be remembered for his love of life and his sense of humorHe enjoyed telling stories and jokes and giving away homemade gadgets, his favorite being a picture of his "Pride and Joy."
A special thank you to Lisa Anderson of Monroe Hospice, Pastor Pat Soddy and Dave Pluss of the Albany United Methodist Church and the staff at Valley Park for their thoughtful and loving care.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Albany United Methodist building fund or to Monroe Clinic Hospice.
Friends and family may call at a visitation at Shriner-Hager-Golke funeral home in Monroe on Monday, March 5, from 4 to 7 pm and services at the funeral home at 11 am on Tuesday, March 6. Burial in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Albany will immediately follow the funeral.