Cover photo for Robert Paul Fritzke's Obituary
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1919 Robert 2013

Robert Paul Fritzke

November 23, 1919 — May 16, 2013

Robert Paul Fritzke November 23, 1919 - May 16, 2013

Robert P. Fritzke, age 93 of Mankato, formerly of St. Clair, died Thursday, May 16, 2013 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 29th at 11:00 A.M. at St. John''s Ev. Lutheran Church in St. Clair with Rev. Matthew Grunewald, officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 7 P.M. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville, and will continue Wednesday morning for one hour prior to services, at church.

Robert Paul was born November 23, 1919 in Hutchinson, Minnesota to Arthur and Lenore (Poulson) Fritzke. Bob graduated from Marshall High School in Minneapolis, and went on to attend Mankato Teacher''s College. He entered military service during WWII in the United States Army. He served as combat medic in the African and European Theatres. Upon his honorable discharge in September of 1945, Bob was awarded the Bronze Star for his distinguished service. Bob returned home and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from the University of Minnesota. He then began farming with his uncle, selling seed corn, and later operated a market in Mankato. Bob was united in marriage to Gertrude J. Winkleman on June 27, 1947 at St. John''s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Clair. In 1949 Bob began a long career as United States Postmaster in St. Clair. He and Gertrude raised their family in St. Clair. Bob retired in 1977 after 28 years of service to the community. They continued to reside in St. Clair before moving to Mankato in 2006. Bob and Gertrude enjoyed their travels both domestically and abroad, and they loved to dance! Bob was a longtime, active member of St. John''s Ev. Lutheran Church in St. Clair, and a life member of the St. Clair American Legion Post # 475. In 2011 Bob participated in an Honor Flight for WWII Veterans. He enjoyed traveling, golfing, hunting & fishing, and bowling. He most treasured the relationship he had with his wife Gertrude and took pride in his children, Nancy Ann and Steve.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Ann Fritzke, and his son, Steven (Maureen Dyvig) Fritzke, all of Minnetonka; sister, Patricia Fink of Laveen, AZ; brother-in-law, James (Myrna) Winkleman of St. Clair; nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gertrude on February 4, 2011.

Casketbearers are: Tom Winkleman, Jeff Winkleman, John Fritzke, Phil Fritzke, Don Dyvig, and Doug Gjerde.

Honorary Casketbearers are: Members of the St. Clair American Legion Post #475.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Paul Fritzke, please visit our flower store.

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