LeRoy C. Fritzler was born in Dighton, Kansas on July 17, 1927.  He farmed and ranched most of his life in Ness and Rush counties.  He passed away in North Platte, Nebraska on January 2, 2012, after a long illness.   He is survived by two sons, Max and Mike, and by four grandsons.

Except for serving two years in the Marine Corps, he farmed all his life until his retirement.
He attended what was at that time Fort Hays State College, where he met Maurine Haynes, who was working at the Hays Daily News.  They married on  November 6, 1951 and moved to Nekoma, Kansas.
Meanwhile, with the Korean War underway, the draft boards were not calling farmers, giving them Farm Deferments whether they wanted them or not.  Tired of the uncertainty and willing to serve his country, LeRoy signed up for a two-year enlistment in the Marine Corps.  The Marine Corps put LeRoy and Maurine in a tiny travel trailer at Camp LeJune where, just a few days before his enlistment was completed, his first son, Max, was born on August 16, 1955.  Back in Kansas on the farm, exactly a year to the day later, his second son, Michael, was born.  Just over a year after that, his third and final child, Mark, was born.

LeRoy and Maurine settled into the farming life in Alexander, and for over 30 years went through the life of raising a family, being active in the community and sharing many good times with their friends and neighbors.  But along with its many joys his life had its trials and tragedies.  Just as his 35-year marriage had failed, a sudden accident killed his youngest son, Mark.
A few years later, his health failing from the hard years on the farm, he retired and turned the farm over to his son Mike.  In retirement at North Platte, Nebraska, he surprised everyone by actually staying retired and by recovering much of his health.

He was a very good farmer, with yields consistently near the top in the county.  More importantly, he was a good father, a good friend and a good neighbor, always ready to do his part and more.  He lived by his principles of fairness and honesty with many a business deal done just by giving his word.  He will be missed for a long time by his many friends and family.

Funeral Services will be at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, North Platte, Nebraska, on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. and Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, Kansas on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. Burial in Ness City Cemetery. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 9 P.M. and Saturday from 9 A.M. to Noon. Memorial contributions may be given to the American Lung Association or the family's choice.