Robert A. Fritsch,

Fritsch, Robert A.MADISON-On Saturday, May 28, 2011, Robert A. Fritsch, age 91, went to join his beloved wife, Virginia, who passed away on Jan. 9, 2011. Robert graduated from St. Marcus Christian Elementary School and Riverside High School in Milwaukee. He then graduated from Marquette University in the year of 1943 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in engineering. Robert worked as a cooperative student during college at Harnischfeger from 1940 to 1943. He served honorably in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater, including Iwo Jima and Luzon in the Philippines. Robert returned from the war in 1946 to resume his career in mechanical engineering at Harnischfeger Corporation of Milwaukee. He married Virginia I. Fletcher in 1947. His career at Harnischfeger spanned 43 years. His duties included being chief engineer at the various equipment product lines, working in Milwaukee, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and twice in Escanaba, Mich., completing his career in Escanaba. In 1978 he was a member of one of the first trade delegations to The People\'s Republic of China. During his visit, relations between the countries were normalized and he celebrated this occasion with his Chinese engineering colleagues. He was a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), serving as co-chair of subcommittee XVII, Group (A), Construction Equipment Manufacturing Association (CEMA). Robert was the holder of seven U.S. patents concerning construction equipment. He was a devoted Lutheran, serving as President of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Escanaba, Mich. He loved singing in the choir with his wife, and served in many roles in each of the churches he attended, including being a delegate to the Synod. At the time of his death he was a member of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church of Verona, Wisc. In his spare time, especially during his retirement, he was an avid golfer at the Terrace Country Club in Escanaba. He enjoyed playing bridge at the Tuesday Bridge Group and was a skilled woodworker. Robert also was a member of Escanaba Kiwanis Club and the American Association of Lutherans for 15 years. Robert suffered a stroke in 2002 and moved to Verona Wisc. where he and Virginia made many friends. He moved to Capital Lakes Retirement Community in Madison in 2004. He is survived by his four children, David (Janet) Fritsch of Ann Arbor, Mich., William (Deborah) Fritsch of Madison, Wisc., Richard (Elizabeth) Fritsch of Washington D.C. and Peter (Lisa) Petaluma of California; and five grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at ST. JAMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 427 S. Main St., Verona, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2011, with the Rev. Kurt Billings presiding. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery with Military Rites conducted. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Cemetery: Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery with Military Rites conducted. Visitation: Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Service: Funeral services will be held at ST. JAMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 427 S. Main St., Verona, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2011, with the Rev. Kurt Billings presiding.