Carol Fritz

Carol R Fritz, age 90, passed away on April 14, 2025, at Arborview Court in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

Carol was born April 8, 1935, on Searle’s Cranberry Marsh in the town of Cranmoor, WI, to Joseph and Mary (Vruwink) Arnold. Carol was raised in Pittsville, WI. After high school, Carol started the nursing program at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, but a serious car accident sidelined her education. After she recovered from her injuries, she met and married Wayne Fritz on May 15, 1954. Carol was a gifted storyteller and always enjoyed a good laugh. She loved to say there were fireworks from the start with Wayne as the Pittsville Creamery exploded on their wedding day. The explosion shook the foundations of St. Joachim’s Catholic Church in Pittsville as they were reciting their wedding vows. Many of the men in attendance ran out the church since they were volunteer firemen. Even her father got up to leave and help at the fire, but her mom pulled him back into the pew.

Carol and Wayne settled into life in Wisconsin Rapids and had 5 children, one son who died shortly after birth, and four daughters who survive her. Carol was an amazing quilter, knitter and embroiderer and a voracious reader. Carol was a big believer in education, so when all of her girls were in school, and Carol was in her 40s, she decided it was time to finish her nursing studies. She graduated as valedictorian in the Licensed Practical Nursing program from Mid-State Technical College and worked many years as an LPN at Riverview Manor. Carol continued her education well into her 80s by attending UW-Stevens Point’s Learning Is ForEver (LIFE) program with her good friend, Jean Osgood.

Carol is survived by her daughters, Theresa Fritz Sleight of Clarksville, TN; Pamela (Bambi Seavers) Fritz of Appleton, WI; Andrea (Allan) Kubisiak of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; and Rhonda Fritz of Grafton, WI. She is also survived by her grandsons, Chris (Leslie) Horn of Greenfield, WI; Mike (Austin Yantes) Kubisiak of Fountain City, WI and Steve (Kristin) Kubisiak of Wisconsin Rapids, WI and two great-grandsons, Calvin Horn and Jacob Kubisiak and a great-granddaughter on the way. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, her infant son, Alan, her parents, Joe and Mary, and all of her siblings and their spouses, Eddy and Rose Arnold, Jean and Bill Hatch, and Fern Balesteri, as well as her father and mother-in-law Walter and Leona Fritz and brothers and sisters-in-law Ken and Evie Fritz and Elaine and Irv Ludkey.

The Fritz family would like to thank the staff at Arborwood Lodge and Arborview Court and Interim Health Hospice for taking wonderful care of Carol the last few years as well as Melissa who always watched out for Carol when she lived at River Run. We are very grateful for the care Pastor Cheryl Davis gave the family as we prepared for Carol’s passing. We also want to thank Herman-Taylor Funeral Home for their assistance in laying her to rest.

As Carol requested, there will be a private service and burial for immediate family only at Forest Hill Cemetery. If you want to recognize Carol’s passing, please consider a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society, or remember a favorite memory or story and fondly wish her good-bye with a hearty laugh thrown in. She’d love that.