Orian W. Fritz

Orian Wilhelmina Fritz, age 93, of McCook, NE passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Hillcrest Caring Center in McCook.

Born February 27, 1927 in Danbury, NE, Orian was one of four children born to Albert and Clara (Esch) Reiners.  Orian grew up in Danbury where she also attended school, graduating with the Class of 1945.  She then went on to attend McCook Community College and obtained her teaching certificate. Orian began her teaching career in School Creek, a one room schoolhouse south of Indianola, where she taught for several years.

On October 3, 1948, Orian married the love of her life, Delbert R. Fritz in McCook.  The couple was blessed with three children: Robert, Allan and Janine.  Following the death of her sister, Dorothy, Orian also helped raise her niece and nephew, Jolene and Delvin Leibbrandt.  Orian was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in McCook where she played the organ and served as Treasurer of the Lutheran Guild.  She was a past Treasurer of the Bartley Rural Fire Department as well as a Treasurer for the Hillcrest Board of Directors for seventeen years and a member of the Live and Learn Club in Bartley.  Orian enjoyed gardening and raising flowers and was a test gardener for Jackson and Perkins Rose Company.  She enjoyed playing cards and will be remembered for her performances of “Hats and Reflections” that showcased the different phases of her life.

Orian was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Delbert Fritz; two brothers, Wayne and Kenneth Reiners; sister, Dorothy Leibbrandt; grandson, Jason Hall; nephew, Delvin Leibbrandt; and son in law, Don Hall.

Those left to celebrate her life include her three children, Robert (Carol) Fritz of Owatonna, MN, Allan (Katie) Fritz of Wamego, KS and Janine (Bob) Pantenburg of McCook; five grandchildren, Justin (Heather) Hall and children Emma, Caleb and Clara of Minden, NE, Amanda (William) Petersen and son, Miles, of Goodyear, AZ, Jon (Leah) Fritz and children Sydney and Matthew of Owatonna, MN, Jeremy (Bailey) Fritz of Manhattan, KS and Aaron Fritz of Wamego, KS; niece, Jolene (Lynn) Goodenberger of Sevierville, TN; Delvin’s widow, Tina Leibbrandt of Cambridge, NE; six great grandchildren and a host of extended family members and friends.