Francis Fruzyna

Francis Joseph Fruzyna (Fuzz) was born in a farmhouse in the rural town of Newton, Wisconsin, on February 12, 1932. He was the second child born to Catherine and Frank, with an older sister Theresa, and younger brother Tony. He attended a one-room schoolhouse with 7 other classmates, where math was his favorite subject. Yes, he walked to school in the rain and snow, but it was only uphill one way. He attended high school in Manitowoc, after which he enlisted in to the army serving 2 years on active duty, stationed at Fort Levonworth, a military prison. When asked if he served in the military, he would respond, "I was in Levonworth" and only after a he got a surprised look would he say, "I was a prison guard". After serving his time, he earned an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (Go Badgers!), where he excelled in math and science. While attending U of W Madison he met the love of his life, Jean Ihlenfeldt. They married in June of 1961 and soon moved to Seattle where Fuzz took a job at Boeing Aircraft. They lived in Seattle for 2 years while starting a family. Barry was born in 1962 and Pat was born a year later.
In 1965, Fuzz accepted a job as an Avionics Engineer at Honeywell, moving the family to Fridley Minnesota. This allowed him to be closer to family in Wisconsin and the farm where he grew up. Their son Kent was born in 1969 rounding out their trio of boys. Shortly after his retirement from Honeywell, his wife Jean was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Over the next five years Jean and Fuzz enjoyed many trips to the Fruzyna farm, a trip to Europe to see Pat, stationed in Germany serving in the Air Force, and a religious pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a town located in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, in 1993, the cancer took Jeans life and Fuzz never remarried, staying true to his love. Fuzz spent the next twenty-two years of his life doing many things, such as, going on Canadian fly-in fishing trips, helping on many projects at St. Williams church, and maintaining the family farm where he enjoyed tending to his large garden. He was always there to help his friends and the families of his three sons. He was even fortunate enough to see "his team" win a few NFL championships in his lifetime. Fuzz will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

Mass of Christian Burial Thursday 5:00 PM with visitation one hour prior at the Church of St. Williams, 6120 - 5th St. NE, Fridley and also Saturday 1:00 PM with visitation from 12:00 noon until 12:45 PM at the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in Manitowoc, WI. Burial at St. Casimir Cemetery, Manitowoc, WI.