Eileen Kay Fritz

Eileen K. "Kay" Fritz, 71, of Dakota Dunes, passed away Monday, June 11, 2018, at her residence after a short battle with cancer.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes.
Eileen Kay Fritz was known as "Kay" to all her friends and family. Kay was born on March 23, 1947, in Danbury, Iowa, the daughter of Gerald Joseph and Laura Ann (Collins) Welte. She grew up in Danbury. She graduated valedictorian from St. Mary's High School in Danbury.
Richard Fritz and Eileen "Kay" Welte were united in marriage on Jan. 14, 1967 at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in Danbury. They had three children, Beth, Gary and Amy. Richard and Kay lived in Mapleton, Iowa, Brown's Lake, Hinton, Iowa, and Dakota Dunes.
Kay worked at Head Start, Western Hills Area Education Agency 12, and Le Mars (Iowa) Mutual Insurance. At AEA, she developed the early childhood screening program, still in use today. Kay obtained a degree in computer programing from Western Iowa Tech Community College prior to working at Le Mars Mutual Insurance.
Kay enjoyed sewing, knitting, painting, puzzles and playing games. She was a member of the Sterling Green Bridge Club. Kay's greatest joy were family gatherings. She especially loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Richard Fritz of Dakota Dunes; daughters, Beth (Fritz) Tymkowicz and her husband, Shane Tymkowicz of Sioux City, and Amy (Fritz) Prato and her husband, William "Bill" Prato of Sioux City; son, Gary Fritz of Dubai, UAE; five grandchildren, Jerame Fritz, Brittnie Storm, Brandon Fritz, Alexandria Tymkowicz and Samantha Tymkowicz; two great-grandchildren, Merry Lou Storm, and Emmie Kay Storm; siblings, Jean Burris of Sioux City, Mary Jo Person of Fargo, N.D., Mike Welte of Sioux City, and Tim Welte and his wife, Robin (Schrunk) Welte of Danbury; sister-in-laws, Verna Welte of Sioux City, Pat Welte of Danbury, Lynn Hansohn and her husband, Allen Hansohn of Denison, Iowa, and Linda Mason in Oklahoma; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Laura (Collins) Welte; and siblings, Evelyn and her husband, Lewis Ahlwardt, Sarah Welte, Patrick Welte, Dennis "Bing" Welte, Joyce Jackson, and Edward Jackson.
In lieu of flowers, the family has set up the Fritz Memorial Account, available at any Liberty National Bank.