Frederick “Fritz” Philip Frueh, 84 of Nashport died at 7:05 AM on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at Morrison House following a lengthy illness. He was born on Saturday, October 22, 1938, in Zanesville, Ohio a son of George P. Frueh and Mae I. Dreier Frueh. Fritz was a lifetime member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He was a graduate of Zanesville High School and Valparaiso University (Mechanical Engineering, P.E.). In 1962, he assumed the leadership role of The Geo. P. Frueh Co., his father’s small roofing and sheet metal business. Fritz then changed the scope of the business, growing it into a highly regarded regional industrial and mechanical contracting company, and leading it until his cancer diagnosis forced him to retire in 2017. His faith, humility, work ethic, generosity, and professionalism defined him. Nothing meant more to him than his family (and his “shop” guys).
He is survived by his wife of 57 ½ years, Mary Lou Rittberger Frueh, whom he married on July 30, 1965, his four children, Christina (Adam) Holmes, Dieter (Charlene) Frueh, Franz Frueh, and Dr. Andrea (John) Collet, and his eleven grandchildren, Caroline and Hansel Holmes, Elise (Jesse) Lee, Claudia, Jakob, Aaron and Derek Frueh, Rainer and Axel Frueh, and Annika and Lydia Collet. He is also survived by his sister Dorothy “Dot” (Ed) Herman, brother George “Walt” Frueh, brother-in-law Bill (Linda) Rittberger, and many nieces and nephews.
Fritz was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Walter and Mary Rittberger, sister Marguerite “Boots” Knispel-Schmidt, brothers-in-law John Knispel and Robert Schmidt, and two special uncles Fred and Herman Dreier.
A Celebration of Fritz’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. Larry Kudart and Rev. Andrew Wilson officiating. Visitors will be welcomed an hour before.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Muskingum County Community Foundation to benefit a memorial fund in Fritz’ name, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, or Genesis Hospice Care Morrison House.
The Bryan & Hardwick Funeral Home, 2318 Maple Ave. Zanesville is coordinating arrangements.
To share memories and condolences with Fritz’s family please visit www.BryanHardwickFH.com.
