Frederick A. Fitschen

Frederick Arthur Fitschen, 76, of Red Wing, died Monday, August 7, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.  He was born on August 8, 1946, in Red Wing to Arthur and Marian (Koch) Fitschen.  He graduated in 1964, from Red Wing Central High School where he played football and basketball.  From 1965 to 1971, he served in the Minnesota National Guard, 47th Viking Infantry Division, 1st Battalion 135th Infantry.  On May 25, 1968, he was united in marriage to Gloria Gluesen at St. John’s Lutheran Church.  In 1962, he started working for the Red Wing Shoe Company retiring in 2002.  He continued to work part-time for 15 years at Ryan Mechanical.

Fred played fast pitch softball for Red Wing Shoe Company, Ralph’s Mobil, Edgewater and slow pitch softball for Honda.  He also bowled for many years on the Red Wing Shoe Company team.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, floating on the boat with Gloria and the kids and all the hunting trips with the Stumpf boys to Montana.  He looked forward to riding his Harley, driving his 1953 Chevy, antique shopping with Gloria, mowing his lawn with the John Deere and having a Hamm’s beer with his many friends.

Fred is survived by his daughter Barbie (Wayne) Otto; one brother Robert (Carole) Fitschen and one nephew Greg Fitschen.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria on September 14, 2015; his parents; one son, Brian; his mother-in-law, Leona Cordes and fathers-in-law, Lyle and Arnold Gluesen.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Frontenac with Reverend Alan Horn officiating. Burial will be at the Oakwood Cemetery in Red Wing.  Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at the church.  Memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church.  Funeral arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.