Fred Gratz

Fredrick William Gratz, 84, of St. James passed away peacefully on July 11, 2018. Fred was born and baptized in Minneapolis and grew up in New Ulm where he was a Boy Scout and played high school basketball and football. Fred proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, was sent to Korea in 1953, honorably discharged, and in 1955 Fred went home to marry his long-time sweetheart Helen Hoffman. Over nearly 67 years together, Fred and Helen raised three children and operated several businesses. Above all Fred loved his family and lived life fully. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting, golfing, and his many friends. Those who knew him best will forever remember how Fred liked having fun. Holding Fred close are his wife Helen; children Doug, Dan (Vonnie), and Sarah (Gary) Fischer; grandchildren Kira (Seth) Winter, Erik Gratz, Micah Haler, and Aaron (Bailey) Gratz; step-grandchildren Josh (Heidi) Bohnen-Fischer and Kya Fischer; great-grandson Nash Winter; sisters Alice (Harold) Neumann and Mary (Gary) More; many nieces and nephews. Fred was preceded in death by his parents Melbourne and Evelyn Gratz; parents-in-law Charlie and Myrtle Hoffman; sisters Shirley Tomaschko, Beverly Hesse, and Patricia Salinas; brother Donald Gratz; sisters-in-law Nadean Johnson, JoAnn (Hagberg) Hubbard, Shirley Hoffman; brothers-in-law Leonard Johnson, Donald Hagberg, Owen Hubbard, Charles Hesse, and Steven Salinas. Visitation 1 11:00 am - 1:30 pm Thursday, July 19, 2018 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 1:30 pm Thursday, July 19, 2018 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Mt. Hope Cemetery, St. James S. CR 27 St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Private burial. Military honors provided by the St. James Veterans Honor Guard. Fellowship Please join the family for fellowship and a snack following the funeral service.