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Henry FRITZKE

May 20, 2008

Mr. Henry Oscar Fritzke went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at the age of 83 years. He was born the oldest of three children on Oct. 30, 1924 to Gustav Martin and Taofila (Schimming) Fritzke. The farm where he was born was located just 1.5 miles North of Orcadia, SK. At the age of seven, he began his primary education at the Grunert School and continued on to complete grade eight. At the age of about eight years, he came under the conviction that he was a lost sinner, and needed to be saved, but tried to avoid making a decision until he was almost nine years old. At a revival meeting held by Rev. William Hoover in July of 1934, Oscar accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He was then baptized the first Sunday in August at the river of the Berndt farm and became a member of the West Ebenezer Baptist Church. Oscar did not attend High School as times were very tough and he was needed on the farm. Although he did not complete his high school at that time, from 1940 to 1948 Oscar attended the Christian Training Institute in Edmonton. He felt God’s call into the Christian ministry and proceeded to complete his high school education by correspondence and adult matriculation at Sure Pass School in Vancouver, B.C. In 1949 Oscar was accepted as a student of the Rochester Baptist Seminary in Rochester, NY. He then attended Sioux Falls College from 1949 to 1951, and

the North American Baptist Seminary from 1951 to 1954 at which time he graduated with a TH. B. Degree. He was ordained into the Christian Ministry on June 30, 1954 at Nokomis, SK. On June 12, 1953 he was united in marriage to Joyce Elain Kopf of North Freedom, WS. The Lord gave them 54 wonderful years together to share the many joys of life. God blessed the union with two children; Marlo B. and Mardell L. Oscar pastored the following churches, three times serving as a yoke fellow. Nokomis/Lockwood from 1954 to 1959, Camrose/Forestburg from 1959 to 1961, Trochu from 1961 to 1968, Anamoose/Lincoln Valley, ND from 1968 to 1975, St. Joseph, MI from 1974 to 1981 and then

McClusky, ND from 1981 to 1989. Oscar and Joyce then retired in Kelowna with their children Gary and Mardell Sorensen. Oscar served the Lord in several ways. He pastored, he was a camp worker, teacher, evangelist for special meetings, Vice Moderator and Moderator of Saskatchewan Association, Northern Conference Mission Committee, Vice Moderator and Moderator of Alberta Association, Northern Conference General Council Representative and Council Representative for the Dakota Conference. Oscar leaves to mourn his passing his very loving wife Joyce Fritzke of Stettler, AB, son Marlo (Erika) Fritzke of St. Joseph, MI and Mardell (Gary) Sorensen of Stettler; five grandchildren Joshua, Joseph, Abigail, and Hannah Fritzke and Ty Sorensen; brother Herb Fritzke of Yorkton, SK and sister Tracy Eisner of Swan River, MB. Oscar was predeceased by his father Gustav Martin Fritzke and his mother Taofila Schimming, and infant son Randall Joel Fritzke who died at birth. “I will meet you in the morning just inside the Eastern gate.” Funeral service was held at the Erskine Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Ross Helgeton officiating. A reception and fellowship followed immediately after the service as Oscar was laid to rest earlier that day at the Lake View Cemetery in Stettler. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons, Taylor University or to a charity of donor’s choice in care of Brennen Funeral Home (2001) Ltd., P.O. Box 193, Stettler, AB, TOC 2LO, who were entrusted with the care and arrangements. 742.3315. Condolences may be e-mailed to brennenf@telusplanet.net.



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