Francis Joseph Niederegger

Mankato Mortuary 1001 North Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN 56001 507-388-2202 Mass of Christian Burial for Francis "Fritz" Niederegger, age 83 of Mankato will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2015 at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Fr. Richard Yevchak, IVE officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 14 at Mankato Mortuary, 1001 North Riverfront Drive. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church Friday. Interment with full military honors will be held at Calvary Cemetery following the service. Fritz was born to Joseph and Martha (Mock) Niederegger June 6, 1931 in Mankato. He attended Ss Peter and Paul grade school and graduated from Loyola High School in 1949. He worked as a hired farm hand through high school and went to work for Coca Cola the Monday after graduation. In 1952, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps where he was stationed in San Diego, California. Upon his honorable discharge February 5, 1954, he returned to Mankato. December 26, 1955, Fritz started working at the Dotson Foundry as a core maker until his retirement in October of 1988. As the story goes, Fritz met the love of his life, Phyllis on a blind date in February of 1954 and was married September 22, 1955 in Lake Benton, MN. Phyllis was captivated by his sparkling blue eyes! As partners, they raised five children: Karen (Stephen) Gibson, Nancy (Frank) Looft, Kay (Gary) Hughes, Mary (Joel) Sternke, Tom (Sarah) Niederegger, 17 grandchildren, Eric and Brian Gibson, Annie Looft, Rachel (Jared) Jaqua, Michael Looft, Maggie (Ryan) Fredrickson, Sara (Julie) Fulk, Krista Spangenberg, Matt and Ben Hughes, Mitchell, Megan and Erin Sternke, Lily, Emma, Molly and Claire Niederegger; 9 great grandchildren. Also left to Mourn Fritz's passing are his sister, Mary Depuydt; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Fritz was a full blooded German Minnesotan Sauerkraut. He never met a problem he couldn't fix or a person he couldn't tease. (HyVee and health care providers, you know what I'm talking about) "Come on in and sit down" was his mantra. He did the neighborhood watch all by himself. He was the hardest working person we will ever know. Fritz never met a squirrel or rabbit he liked. Never a food he didn't like (except cold egg sandwiches). He loved God, his family, and felt blessed in his life. Fritz left this world peacefully May 11, 2015 and gave us all everlasting memories, as we know he cared deeply for us. He was preceded in death by his beloved Phyllis, January 16, 2015, his parents; and brother-in-law, Joe Depuydt.