Final Salute

ALGONA — A funeral service for Fritz will be held 10:00 AM Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at First Presby­terian Church in Algona. Burial will follow at River View Cemetery in Algona. Military rites will be conducted by Hagg-Turner American Legion Post #90 and V.F.W. Post #2541. The funeral and graveside service will be live streamed on the Oakcrest Funeral Services Facebook page. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 PM Monday, September 12, at Oakcrest Funeral Services in Algona, followed by a Masonic Service at 7:00 PM.

Fritz “The Old Grey Fox” Nielsen passed away peacefully with family in Ames, Iowa, on September 7, 2022, at age 96. Fritz James Nielsen was born August 8, 1926, the fifth child of Alex and Signe Lundsgaard Nielsen, in Algona, Iowa.

Fritz graduated from Algona High School in 1943. He was a member of the Bulldog Yearbook Staff and the Bullpup Newsletter Staff and played trumpet in the band. He participated in wrestling, Mixed Chorus, Boys Glee Club, “A” Club, Student Council, Madrigal Group, Home Room Officer, and many class plays. Fritz was a four-year letter winner in wrestling.

Fritz attended Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and after spending two years in the U.S. Navy, he came back to ISTC in the fall of 1946, graduating with a B.A. in physical education and teaching with a minor in science in 1950. He wrestled in college and was part of the ISTC national championship team.

Fritz served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946, as a Navy Seabee in the Construction Battalion at Okinawa, Japan. Fritz married the love of his life, Shirley Ann “Sandy” Nelson, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 4, 1951. Fritz and Sandy met on the tennis courts at Iowa State Teacher’s College. Fritz liked to say they met and fell in love because, after all, tennis is a “love” game. After their wedding, Fritz and Sandy settled in Algona for the summer and managed the Algona Swimming Pool plus taught swimming lessons around Kossuth County. They organized a family swim show, where the finale included Fritz diving off the high board into a flaming ring of fire on the water.

Fritz served as a teacher for one year at Rowan High School, two years at Jesup High School, and nine years at New Hampton High School. In 1963, Fritz and Sandy moved back to Algona, where Fritz taught Driver’s Education and coached Junior High School wrestling until his retirement in 1988. From 1963 to 1988, Fritz coached many junior high wrestlers who went on to place at State.

In 1988, Fritz started the YMCA Wrestling Program for K-2 grades and coached in the program until 2014. Fritz is the namesake of the “Fritz Nielsen Youth Wrestling Tournament” in Algona.

Fritz was a devoted member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 60 years, from 1956 until he moved away from Algona in 2020. He has served in every office of the Masons, including the role of President of the Temple Board in 1972. Fritz received the Iowa State High School Athletic Association News Media Award in 2002 and was inducted in the Algona Wall of Fame in 2017. For 50 years, he was the voice of Algona Wrestling for KLGA Radio.

Fritz’s family included his parents, Niels “Alex” Nielsen and Signe Elene Nielsen, his brothers Alex Jerome Nielsen, Glen E. Nielsen, and his sister Jean Nielsen Ross. A sister, Karen, passed when she was nine years old. The other four Nielsen children lived well into their 90’s. Many knew Fritz as the Old Grey Fox, a name he earned during a football game that Fritz was coaching between New Hampton and Cedar Falls. The score was tied with 15 seconds left, and Fritz called a play which allowed New Hampton to score and win the game. The Cedar Falls coach shook hands with Fritz after the game and said, “You outfoxed me.” Fritz was known as “The Fox” until his hair turned gray, and he became “The Old Grey Fox” the rest of his life. Fritz also loved to sing “The Algona Song” and did so recently to celebrate his 96th birthday. Fritz was very proud of Algona, his hometown. Fritz and Sandy enjoyed following Algona and Iowa State sports, playing golf, playing cribbage, and spending time with family. They were members of both Whittemore and River Road golf clubs. Fritz loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren so very much. But more than anything, he missed Sandy, who passed away in March 2016. Fritz is survived by his children Rick (Julie McKenzie) of Ankeny, IA, Jeri (Tom) Steinmetz of Batavia, IL, Randy (Kim) Nielsen of O’Fallon, MO, and Judi (Gary) Eyles of Ames, IA; nine grandchildren: Jen (Michael) McAnaney, Julie (Stefan) Campbell, Randi Leigh Bowlby, Alex (Kelli) Nielsen, Hunter (Cassie) Nielsen, Daniel Steinmetz, Jeremy (Rene) Wofford, Benjamin Eyles, and Amy Eyles; and ten great-grandchildren: Delphine and Atlas McAnaney, Kai, Dax, Maecy, and Sadie Nielsen, Burke and Rhys Campbell, Gus Fritz and Noah Wofford. Fritz was preceded in death by his parents, wife Sandy, two brothers and two sisters. Memorial contributions may be designated to Algona High School, Algona High School Wrestling, or the Algona Masonic Temple. To leave an online tribute, visit www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.