Brian J. Fitzgerald's Obituary
Good people will be remembered as a blessing. Proverbs 10:7
Brian James Fitzgerald passed away peacefully at home on August 28, 2022 in Oshkosh, Wisc., following a long illness. He was born January 3, 1953 in Fond du Lac, Wisc. to parents Jerome and Margaret Fitzgerald.
Brian was a life-long learner. As a boy, he attended St. Peter’s elementary school in Oshkosh and was involved in scouting, had a paper route, played tennis and the trombone. He attended Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, where he was active in the school newspaper, the Championette, and ran track and cross country all four years. During the summers, he mowed lawns for the City of Oshkosh and tested and repaired motors at Mercury Marine. He also worked in the lab at Mercy Medical Center, where his dad was the administrator of the clinical laboratory. For his high school senior project, Brian spent time on a boat studying marine biology in Beaufort, North Carolina.
He received a B.S. in chemistry from Marquette University in 1975 and did post-graduate work in chemistry at the University of Colorado, Boulder (1975-1981). After, he was a research assistant in the Perinatal Nutritional Laboratory at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston studying muscular dystrophies under the direction of Dr. Frank Morriss, whom he greatly admired, and colleague, Lavonne Riddle. Brian was dedicated and meticulous in his work. Throughout his life, Brian enjoyed keeping current on medical research.
After returning to Oshkosh in 1988, Brian studied at Fox Valley Technical Institute to become an electrician. He was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W.) Local Union 577, receiving his 30-year service pin in 2018. In his 30-year career, Brian worked with many companies through the union, including Van Ert Electric Co., Pieper Electric, and Altmeyer Electric. The wind turbines that line Highway 41 between Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, providing renewable energy for the area, are just one of many sites that showcase Brian’s craftsmanship. Brian always enjoyed his work and missed his career after he retired in 2020 due to health issues.
On April 12, 1985, Brian married Annette Lueck at St. Vincent Church in Oshkosh. They lovingly raised two children, James and MaryJo Fitzgerald, in their home on Brockway Avenue. In their younger years, Brian treated them to Sunday doughnuts, willingly stood in line at McDonalds for coveted teeny Beanie Babies, took them on the frozen lake in winter, ate at Black Wolf family restaurant with them and loved their cats. Brian built them a fort in their backyard that they and their cousins and friends enjoyed for many years.
Brian was proud to name his son, James, after his own middle name and give him an Irish middle name to carry forward for the family. Brian helped with James’ scouting events, softball games, and they made pinewood derby cars together. In later years, he and James bonded over their shared interests in stocks, physics, research, and learning anything and everything.
James often called Brian with a random question and Brian almost always knew the answer. Recently, they both enjoyed time together working at Brian’s Omro house.
Brian felt blessed to have a daughter: attending her volleyball games, putting a big red bow on her first car on her 16th birthday, visiting her in Madison, California and New York, escorting heron her wedding day, and arriving in Brooklyn with plenty of time to wait for his granddaughter’s arrival. He welcomed his son-in-law, Hogan, into the family, and the two quickly bonded over understanding how things work and how to get from point A to B.
Brian was active in the local community on Oshkosh’s south side, spending two years as Co-Vice President of Smith Elementary PTO when his kids attended the school. During that time, he helped install new playground equipment that was used for many years. As a member of the Fugleberg Park Association, in 1993, he gathered signatures and spoke before the Common Council to ensure Fugleberg Park would remain intact after a controversial extension of 20th Avenue was proposed. He said, “Such neighborhoods are what make a unique and distinctive city.”
Throughout his life, Brian was an exceptional and generous caregiver to those he loved. He and his siblings cared for their mother during her illness. Brian took his dad out for Sunday lunches and rides on scenic country roads. In the wee hours of the morning, the staff at Sharehaven often saw Brian checking in on his dad. He cared for his in-laws, Carl and Joan, and was proud to be their son-in-law.
Brian also took excellent care of Annette during her years of ill health. Knowing she loved to garden, he helped her plant flowers by digging holes where she pointed. As the gardens bloomed, he would always say, “Such beautiful flowers!”
Because Brian was a night owl, he was perfect for the job of walking and rocking wide-awake orill children, nieces or nephews, who all loved to be held and treasured by him, in particular his great-nephew, Connor. His granddaughter, Belle, loved to get “the tour” from Grandpa Brian.
Brian was grateful for the good times with his siblings and their families, skiing and working on the farm in earlier years, as well as their unwavering love, prayers, and support through cards, phone calls, meals, and visits during his illness. In 1971, Brian purchased a red 1959 Triumph TR3a, which he planned to refurbish with brother-in-law, Ray. The car spent years disassembled in boxes, and the pair kiddingly sold the Triumph back and forth for $1 for many years.
He treasured the friendships of colleagues and roommates in Houston and appreciated the years of friendship and help from his Omro neighbors, Randy and Ron.
Brian moved at his own pace through the world. He took pleasure in the moon, fields of growing crops, and seeing deer, hawks and foxes while traveling country roads to and from work – never taking the same route from point A to point B. He spent time absorbing the world, never hurried anywhere and was always worth waiting for. Everyone was glad to see him when he arrived.
Brian did not want more than he had, and what he had was yours if you needed it. He helped those less fortunate, often stopping to help others change flat tires on the freeway in Houston, or transporting hitchhikers in need of a ride. It was not unusual for him to stuff $100 in your hand or step forward to offer cash to anyone ahead of him in checkout lines that were in need of help.
He is survived by Annette Lueck-Fitzgerald and their children; James Fitzgerald and MaryJo Fitzgerald (Hogan Edelberg), and granddaughter, Belle Edelberg. He is survived by his siblings: Dennis (Jane) Fitzgerald, Bridget (Ray) Lewellyn, Mary (Bill) Scerra, Kate Fitzgerald (D.L. Berridge), and Mollie (Mike) Kennedy. And by Annette’s siblings: Carl Jr. (Bridget) Lueck and Jeffrey (Wendy) Lueck. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome and Margaret Fitzgerald, his grandparents, and his in-laws, Carl and Joan Lueck. The family would like to thank Dr. Alzoubi (Aurora Medical), Dr. Weber (St. Luke’s), Dr. Moid, Dr. Dar, and Dr. Hsie (Lombardi Cancer Center), Dr. Kratz (UW Department of Medicine), the nurses at Hospice Care, and all the staff for their kindness, expertise and exceptional care.
Visitation for Brian will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church (St. Vincent’s site), 1225 Oregon Street, Oshkosh, WI. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. at that same site. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.
We are changed now, not because he left us, but because he loved us. God’s grace filled Brian’s life, and was manifested in the way he lived his whole life, to the very end, with quiet strength and fierce determination.
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