Fredrick M. “Fritz” Tumm, age 83, of Fall Creek, WI, returned peacefully to his heavenly home on March 29, 2018.
Fritz was born March 13, 1935, to Henry and Amelia (Pape) Tumm. Fritz was raised on a dairy farm in rural Ludington Township. As a child he attended Pine View School and graduated from Fall CreekHigh School in 1953. Growing up on the family farm he had many self-made adventures with his siblings, always thinking of and convincing them of a “newer and easier” way of doing things. Fritz participated in the 4-H dairy project with his calf “Pepper,” which may have led to his career in the farming industry.After high school, Fritz began a 42-year sales career with the Babson Brothers/Surge Company. Earlyin his career he traveled to state fairs in the Midwest to give farmers a “Live Cow Show” using Surgeequipment. As a district manager for Surge he traveled to Indiana, where he met and married, Janet Rowlett. After being promoted to divisional manager, they moved to Washington State. Later, his promotion to regional sales manager gave him a territory of eleven western states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and moved the family residence to Fresno, CA. After retiring from Babson Brothers (formerly known as Surge), Fritz did consulting for the dairy industry, forming his own company called Global Parlor Performance Systems.In addition,
Fritz served his country as a member of the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and spent time training in Alaska as part of a mountain ski troop.He began his lifelong faith journey as a member at St. James Trinity Lutheran Church in Fall Creek. While raising his family in California, he was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fresno, CA.Fritz was always telling a joke and bringing a smile to everyone’s face and heart. He was a fun, kind, loving, and generous blessing to all those who knew him. His visits back to Wisconsin were looked forward to by many.
Fritz is survived by his three children, Dennis (Sonya) of Nevada, MO, Mike of Altoona, WI, and Tom of Nevada, MO; grandchildren, Samantha (Ryan) Janes, James (Amanda) Tumm, and Jordon Tumm, all of Nevada, MO; great-grandchildren, Alima, Dylan, and Madisyn Tumm; and, former spouse, Janet Tumm Preston; brothers, Bill (Bea) Tumm, and Ron (Mary) Tumm; sisters, Shirley Jungerberg, Lois Geske Linse, and Amanda (Rollie) Lee. He is also survived and loved by many
nieces and nephews, including great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents and sister Betty Hass.A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at St. James Trinity, Fall Creek with Pastor Rick Biedermann officiating. There will be a private burial at a later date.
A visitation will be held at Anderson Funeral Home, Augusta, WI, on Monday, April 2, 2018, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and then again on Tuesday at St. James Trinity from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
For those who are unable to attend and would like to watch the service online, please visit the St James Trinity website http://stjamestrinity.org/blog1/trinity-tv for a live stream.
Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com