Obituary
The following death notice appeared in the Ottumwa paper, the Ottumwa Courier, in its 10 October 1929 edition, on page 1, column 7.
William Fritz Dies Suddenly
Prominent Blakesburg Resident Found Dead After Stroke.
Blakesburg, Oct. 10. — William Fritz, 69 years old and a life-long resident of this community, was found dead at the side of the road just south of the city at 6:30 o'clock Wednesday evening, with death the result of a stroke of apoplexy. Fritz, a prominent farmer and business man of this section, was returning to the city from his farm which is located about one-half mile south of town. While he was making the trip in on horseback, it is thought that he had dismounted before the stroke proved fatal. His body was found by Dr. O. Barnhardt, a veterinary surgeon, who was driving into Blakesburg. Dr. B. L. Basinger, local physician, was immediately called and pronounced the death the result of apoplexy.
Fritz, who was a bachelor, is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. William Shea, Mrs. Louise Abernathy, Henry Fritz, and Frank Fritz, all of Blakesburg, and by eleven nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Frank Hardy who lived in Ottumwa, and by one brother, George Fritz.
The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from the home of his sister, Mrs. Abernathy, in charge of the Rev. Fred Tucker. Interment will be made in the Blakesburg Cemetery.