Roger Fritchen

Roger Fritchen

1946-2021

Heaven has welcomed home Roger Lee Fritchen this day, Nov. 12, 2021. Roger is the son of Wilford Lee and Pauline Heisdorffer Fritchen born Nov. 10, 1946 in Washington County. When he was two, the family, including older sister Janice, moved from the Skunk River bottom near Richland to their farm on the east edge of Sigourney. After graduating from Sigourney High School in 1964, Roger gave up his dream of attending Iowa State University to study engineering and remained home to farm for his parents following Wilford’s massive heart attack. He was an excellent steward of the land and loved straight rows! On August 15, 1969 he married Linda Petermann, his high school sweetheart. Their romance started when she asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance on March 8, 1963.

They adopted two children: Andrea Ellen in 1978 and Timothy Lee in 1984. Their two grandchildren are Carter John Wallerich and Chloe Linn Wallerich.

Roger loved the land, working outdoors, garage sales, auctions, flea markets, and finding a good bargain especially if it took a little fixing to make it shine. A very special treat was camping at the Iowa State Fair which they had done for forty years. Roger proudly served on the Prairie Mutual insurance board for thirty years only missing one meeting! He was a member of the Sigourney United Methodist church and Webb Lodge #182.

Roger was preceded in death by his son, Timothy, on April 16, 2000, sister Janice Conrad on June 24, 2018, parents Pauline on May 3, 2020 and Wilford October 23, 1979.

Roger is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda, daughter Andrea, grandchildren Carter and Chloe Wallerich, brother-in-law Mike Conrad, nieces Tammy (Jim) Hoover, Deb (John) Knowler, Sherry (David) Tornow, and Susan (Craig) Andrew, brothers-in-law Larry (Sonda) Petermann and their daughter Chanda Peterman and Rick (Dalene) Gordon many great nieces and nephews, cousins and a host of friends .