Donald D. ‘Fritz’ Pflughoeft (1930-2019)
Donald D. “Fritz” Pflughoeft, 89, passed away Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 at his home in Ellsworth. He was born, the youngest of four children, in Ellsworth County to F.A. “Fritz” and Amalie (Haase) Pflughoeft.
Fritz was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth. He retired from Western Power and Light Company where he had worked for nearly 50 years. He also retired from the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department after 39 years of service. He married Earldene Gamber in Wilson, Kan. on Aug. 26, 1948. They were active members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ellsworth and they enjoyed playing cards with family and friends.
Fritz loved football and played quarterback on the Central Prairie League Championship team in 1948. In high school, he set pins at a two-lane bowling alley where he suffered numerous bruises while earning two cents per line. During that time, he also worked for Soukup Produce where he picked up ice from Salina to deliver to Ellsworth and other communities. Years later, he often laughed that he did all that driving without a driver’s license.
Fritz loved visiting with people, there were no strangers in his life, only people who he had not yet had an opportunity to be friends with.
Fritz is survived by his daughter, Margaret Lentz of Onalaska, Wisc.; grandchildren, Ryan Lentz (Melissa), Katrina Lentz, Jake Svaty, and James Svaty (Ashley); and great-grandchildren, Everest and Kingston Lentz and Emmerae, Shianne, Dawsone, and John Svaty.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Earldene; daughter, Melinda Svaty; sisters, Lila Dean Hardman and Betty Bailor; and brother, Frederick D. Pflughoeft.
Visitation is from 1-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth with family present from 6-8 p.m.
Memorial service is at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10 at Parsons Funeral Home with inurnment following in Ellsworth Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department, in care of Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.
Condolences may be left at parsonsfh.com