Frederic "Fritz" Warren Zoerb

Frederic (Fritz) Warren Zoerb of Onalaska passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the age of 89, from complications after nine challenging years with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born on May 27, 1932 in La Crosse and graduated from Central High School in 1949. Fritz was a proud Veteran of the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955.

He married the love of his life, Louise Balmer Zoerb June 8, 1957 and would have celebrated their 65 ^th wedding anniversary in June.

Fritz graduated from UW La Crosse in 1960 and was employed with La Crosse Floral for over 30 years. He retired in 1994 and began his own home remodeling business.

Fritz worked at that craft for eight years and built a beautiful retirement home on Lake Arbutus. Fritz and Louise resided there for twelve wonderful years before moving back to Onalaska in 2008.

In his free time, he loved playing golf, especially his many years in Virg’s Golf Club. His passions also included volleyball, 50 years in a couple’s bridge club and building beautiful furniture for his grandchildren. He cherished his weekly breakfast outings with his 49-er Club who were dear Central High School classmates. He and Louise enjoyed travel, dear friends and special winters in Florida.

Fritz is survived by his loving wife Louise, his daughter K ä ren Zoerb Cohen and his son Kurt Frederic Zoerb, five special grandchildren Rachel (Bill) Geurkink, Aaron Berck Cohen, Ian Karl Zoerb, Alexandra Shaw Cohen and Arianna Karlin Cohen and two beautiful great grandsons Sean and Liam Geurkink. He is further survived by his brothers Richard Carl (Margaret Anne) Zoerb and John F. Zoerb, as well as many special cousins, nieces and nephews.

Fritz was preceded in death by his parents John G. “Hans” and Isabella Berck Zoerb, a son Karl Frederic Zoerb and a son-in-law Robert Cohen.

Fritz lived a beautiful simple life. It did not take much to make him happy—a phone call, a card, a visit or a kiss before saying good night. We were the most important people in the world to him. He lived to make our lives better and was proud of us.

To think that someone like him felt that way about us should make us all feel more than just a little good. We can never forget there is a part of him in each of us, something that he gave to us and asked nothing for in return.

The family would like to thank the incredible guardian angels from the VA Hospice and Mayo Hospice Care and Dr. Jon Heiderscheit.

Very special thanks to the wonderful neighborhood friends that kept Fritz with a full cookie jar. He was the true Cookie Monster.

A Celebration of Life will be Thursday, March 3, 2022 at First Lutheran Church, 410 Main Street, Onalaska. Reverend Karyn Bodenschatz will be officiating. Visitation at 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m.

Please consider a memorial of your choice to First Lutheran Church of Onalaska, Mayo Clinic Hospice and the Salvation Army.