Funeral services for Dorothy Jane Fritz will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2020, at Iles Westover Funeral Home with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery.
At this time public gatherings have been limited to 10 people or less. Visit Dorothy’s obituary on at www.ilescares.com for a live stream starting at 10:45 a.m.
Dorothy Jane Fritz was born July 8, 1930, by Lorimor, Iowa, the daughter of Sam and Opal (Grandfield) Thompson. She passed away on March 17, 2020, at Edencrest Care Center in Beaverdale, Iowa, at the age of 89.
She attended country school in Macksburg until her family moved to Greenfield where she graduated in 1947. Dorothy married Albert Eshelman and they had five children and lived north of Fontanelle.
Being a Mother brought her great joy! Besides five children, she had a huge garden, helped raise turkeys, was a great cook, attended Club, many school activities, and always loved being surrounded by music.
Dorothy moved to Des Moines in 1969 and graduated from beauty school accomplishing her dream. She was a beautician for approximately 35 years and truly enjoyed it.
In 1982, she married Dale Fritz. They lived in Greenfield for two years and moved back to Des Moines in 1984. They enjoyed dancing until Dale’s health failed and he could no longer dance.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, her parents, her sister, Betty Woodside and husband Clyde, brother-in-law Ralph Kester, brother-in-law Ernie Hoepner and granddaughter Sheri Metzger, and grandson-in-law James Wolfe.
She is survived by her five children; Steve Eshelman (Cindy), Cindy Schildberg (John), Debby Manning, Craig Eshelman (Phyllis) and Jerry Eshelman (Vicki). Dorothy was blessed with 14 grandchildren; Greg Eshelman (Jennifer), Gary Eshelman, Nick Eshelman, Lindsey Ehlers (Jacob) Scott Hugen (Robin), Phylisha Wolfe, Clinton Eshelman (Kelly), Connie Gambrall (Nick), Michelle Carns(Clark), Stacie Hull (Todd), Mark Eshelman (Ragan), Ami Christensen (John), Pam Long(Lonnie) and Chad Metzger ( Ginna). She had 26 great grandchildren,one great great grandson, and one great great granddaughter due in June. Dorothy is also survived by two sisters, Marilyn Hoepner and Nita Deane Kester, and a brother, Sam Thompson & wife Carol, plus many other relatives & friends.
