Fritz passed away on his birthday at age 89, joining Darlene, his lovely wife of 63 years in their eternal home to be with his Lord and Savior.
Born in Skidmore, Missouri to Walter Lane McGinness and Wilma Opal (Logan) McGinness on August 31st, 1935. Fritz grew up the son of a butcher, many times helping his father serving the local farming community. He was active in sports, playing baseball and basketball and everything else with older brother Logan, graduating from Skidmore High School in 1953.
An Eagle Scout, who signed up to join the Navy at 17, Fritz traveled the world serving at the end of the Korean Conflict, primarily on the Franklin D Roosevelt aircraft carrier as a ET3 Electronics Technician. He was also part of the Drum and Bugle Core, playing the Bugle. After the Navy, Fritz came back home attending Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, with the intention of transferring to Missouri Rolla to complete an Electrical Engineering degree. His plans changed after meeting Darlene at a NWMSU function. He fell in love, got married in 1959, and never left Maryville until graduating with degrees in Mathematics and Physics in 1961.
Darlene and Fritz moved to Topeka after college and Fritz started teaching at Jardine Jr. High School. He received a Masters degree in Education from Emporia State University attending night classes, and eventually moved on to be a counselor at Alf Landon Jr High and then as Assistant Principle and Athletic Director at Topeka West High School. During his time in Topeka, he was an active coach and official of many different sports. From these experiences as a Coach, Official and Administrator, he joined the staff of the Kansas State High School Athletics Association, roaming the state to oversee and manage competitions and championships for five years. From there, he moved on to the National Federation of State High School Associations where he served for 23 years before retiring in 2000 as Associate Director. At the National Federation, Fritz oversaw the national high school sport of wrestling and managed the production and publication of thousands of sports films, rule books, manuals, and other literature. He served on the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee and the USA Wrestling Board of Directors overseeing the men’s national Olympic teams for many years. In 1999 he was awarded the Order of Merit by the US Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma and later received a Lifetime Service to Wrestling award in 2008. After retirement, he continued to work for the NFHS and was Executive Chairman of the 2003 NCAA Wrestling Championships held in Kansas City.
A faithful member at Hope Lutheran Church in Shawnee for 45 years, where he served as an Elder and on many boards and committees, and sang in the choir. Many of Fritz and Darlene’s closest friends were always their church family from Hope, with whom they enjoyed many international travels.
An avid golfer who started playing at around age 40, he achieved a magical Hole-in-One and shot his age at least once in his mid-80’s.
Fritz is survived by his daughter Karmen (McGinness) Kennedy and husband Scott, son Derrick McGinness and wife Dawn; grandchildren Cooper Kennedy and Tiffany Andes, Morgan Kennedy, Moriah Kennedy, Melanie McGinness and husband Irving Alcantara, and Mason McGinness and wife Megan; Sister-in-Laws Geannene Livengood (Darlene’s sister), Marge McGinness (older brother Logan’s wife), and Janet McGinness (younger brother Malcolm’s wife) and many nieces and nephews from the McGinness and Livengood families.
Thank you for the kind words and prayers for Fritz’s family. We know that he and Darlene were loved by the Hope Lutheran Church family and anyone who met them both.
Memorials can be made to Hope Lutheran Church, Shawnee, Kansas and can be designated to either the church or school in the memo line.