Alfred Ray "Fritz" Ganther Jr's Obituary
Alfred Ray “Fritz” Ganther, Jr., age 89, of Oshkosh, passed into eternal life on Friday
evening, June 17, 2022, at The Courtyard of Oshkosh. He was born on May 31, 1933,
the son of Alfred R. and Marjorie (Scofield) Ganther, Sr., in Oshkosh, WI.
Fritz graduated from Oshkosh High School at age 16 in 1950. He earned his Bachelor
of Architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1955. He studied for a year
at the Salzburg School of Architecture, Salzburg, Austria under the auspices of
Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburg, PA, and earned his Master of Architecture
degree at Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1956.
Fritz was hired in 1956 by Mills, Petticord & Mills – Architects & Engineers as a project
architect. He was proud of his work as the onsite project architect for the Smithsonian
Museum of American History, which became known as “Uncle Fritz’s Building” to his
nieces and nephews in the Washington, DC area. During his time working in DC, he
met Elizabeth Marion “Betsy” Reynolds; they were married on November 29, 1958, at
the Basilica of St. Mary in Old Town Alexandria, VA.
In 1961 Fritz, Betsy and the first two of their four children, moved to Oshkosh where
Fritz joined the family construction business, Ben B. Ganther, Co., where worked until
1992. Between his time in Washington, DC and Oshkosh, he served as an officer in the
Army Reserves/Corps of Engineers.
Fritz was a Registered Architect in Wisconsin, Virginia, Maryland, and District of
Columbia. He devoted much time in support of the construction industry and its people,
both management and labor. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the
Wisconsin State Carpenters Pension Fund and its Health & Welfare Fund. He was
President of the Fox River Valley Contractors Association, and served as President &
Director of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, as
well as the President & Director of the Fox River Valley Chapter of the Construction
Specifications Institute.
His involvement in the Oshkosh business community included serving as a Director of
First Wisconsin National Bank, Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
Foundation. He was a Director of the Oshkosh Area Association of Manufacturers &
Commerce as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mercy Medical Center
Foundation.
The importance of education was a bedrock value for Fritz, and one he strove to instill in
his children. He served as President of Educare – University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
and the College of Education Support Group, and was Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of Lourdes Academy, which all four of his children attended. He also served
as a Trustee of Marian College Foundation – Fond du Lac, WI, and Chairman of the
Marion College Board of Trustees. He also was a Trustee of the Green Bay Catholic
Diocese Foundation.
Fritz enjoyed golfing, duck hunting, ice boating, woodworking, and wood carving. He
was an avid birdwatcher, keeping binoculars always at the ready near the glass walls
behind his desk. Until late in his life he was an enthusiastic landscape gardener (and
bitter enemy of the rabbits that would eat his saplings).
Fritz’s legacy includes commitment to family, the Oshkosh community, education, and
the Catholic Church (including devotion to Our Lady and Our Lady’s school – go Irish!).
Daily Mass was part of his schedule from an early age and he always carried – and
used – his rosary.
Fritz is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Ganther; his children, Ben Ganther of
Oshkosh, WI; Margaret “Peggy” (Gary) Gaworski of West St. Paul, MN; Jim (Melissa)
Ganther of Tampa, FL; Mike Ganther of Oshkosh, WI; 18 grandchildren, Lauren (Dany)
Zapata, John (Malinda) Ganther, Ben B. (Jessica) Ganther, Tim Ganther, Jonathan
(Helen) Gaworski, Molly Ganther, Maddie (Sam) Howard, Anna (Joshua) Taubel,
Meaghan Ganther, Jacob Ganther, Maggie Ganther, Jane (Adam) Trofka, Teresa
Gaworski, Bridget Ganther, Evan Ganther, Mikaela Gaworski, Katie Ganther, Erin
Ganther; and three great grandchildren, Isabella Taubel, Cam Ganther, and Philomena
Taubel; sisters Mary Ising and Jane (Jim) Fennell, both of St. Paul, MN; and brother,
Tom Ganther of Oshkosh, WI.
Fritz was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred & Marjorie Ganther, Sr. and his sister,
Marjorie Kircher.
A visitation for family and friends will be held Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from 10:00 –
11:30 AM at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 435 High Avenue, Oshkosh. A funeral Mass
will be held following the visitation at 11:30 AM with Fr. Jerry Pastors officiating. Burial
will follow at Riverside Cemetery, 1901 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lourdes Academy, Oshkosh.
The family wishes to thank the staff at The Courtyard of Oshkosh; Shannon W., RN,
and the staff of St. Croix Hospice for the end-of-life care provided to Fritz.
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