June 20, 2024
By Obituaries on June 20, 2024.
GORDON HAROLD FRITZKE
GORDON HAROLD FRITZKE 1953-2024
Gordon passed away into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior in the early morning on Sunday June 16, 2024, at the age of 71. His thirteen year long fight with kidney cancer is now over. Gordon was born on March 25, 1953, to Harold and Leota Fritzke in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. He was the eldest of four children.
On July 14, 1973, he married his sweetheart, Sandra (Sandy) Fritzke, whom he had met in February of that year at the Medicine Hat Christian College. They moved out to the farm and began living the Saskatchewan dream. Their first child, Darcy, was born June 6, 1975, and their second, Julie, was born October 28, 1977. Farming was incredibly tough in those early years and Gordon needed to supplement his income so that his family could survive. It was in 1978 that he began to pursue a career in the oil patch. Working on the oil rigs became a passion for him. The work was interesting and rewarding, but also very physical and required him to sacrifice time with his family as he was away for long periods. The rig days were his glory days.
He loved to recount many a story from those times, reliving the shenanigans of the crew members he worked with, as well as scary tales of blowouts, and poor safety practices that would be OH&S nightmares today. His hard work paid off and, in 1985, the family was able to move into a newly built house, complete with flush toilets and running water. He hung up his rig boots in March 1991.
Full time farming was now his life’s work, although a part of his heart would always remain with Hi-Tower drilling. Gordon was tasked with the job of trucking and it was something that he greatly enjoyed. He got such a thrill from driving the grain truck he had dubbed “Bucky”. To him, the throaty growl the truck would make when he shifted gears was beautiful music to his ears. Gordon’s relationship with his Heavenly Father was the cornerstone upon which his life was built. His faith and trust in Jesus sustained him and gave him hope. His desire was that everyone would know the love of God and that they would enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. His dying breaths were spent praying for his friends and neighbours and sharing John 3:16.
Gordon leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 50 years, Sandra (Sandy) Fritzke; two Children, Darcy Fritzke (Linnette Irwin) and Julie Kroeker (David); three grandchildren, Jorja Kroeker, Virginia Kroeker, and Cecilia Kroeker; siblings, Brent (Fay) Fritzke, Corinne (Martin)
Arnold, and Allan (Aigul) Fritzke; brothers-in-law, Dale (Jan) Schlenker and Darren (Geri) Schlenker; as well as several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held at the Golden Prairie Community Church on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 11:00 AM with Pastor Rod Nikkel officiating. There will be a viewing before the service starting at 10:00 AM.
Donations in his memory may be made to Village Missions of Canada (villagemissions.ca).
Condolences may be made at http://www.gracememorial.com. Arrangements are made by
Grace Memorial Affordable Burial & Cremation 1924 10th Ave N.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1C 1T5 http://www.gracememorial.com 403-905-0440 4
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