Francis "Fritz" Joseph Massman, age 96, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully with his wife and children by his side on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W. Main St. Decorah, Iowa, with Father Jon Seda presiding. Burial will follow at St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W. Main St. Decorah, Iowa. There will be no visitation prior to the mass on Saturday morning at the church. Please come in and be seated.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in memory of Fritz. 

Francis “Fritz” Joseph Massman was born June 10, 1930, in Festina, Iowa, to Frank and Lucy (Backes) Massman. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina and attended St. Mary’s parochial school in Festina. After his education, Fritz worked as a farmhand near Ridgeway, a construction worker in Minnesota and at Bucheit Produce in Calmar, before becoming a full-time farmer, a role he cherished for the rest of his working days.

During a fortuitous dance at the Inwood in Spillville, Fritz asked a young woman by the name of Jo Ann Junk to dance with him, and she was thrilled to say yes. The two were united in marriage on June 14, 1955, at St. Lucas Catholic Church, and purchased farm property near Decorah, where they remained for most of their lives. Here they raised their seven children: Cheryl, Darrel, Thomas “Tom”, Mary, Jesse, Pamela “Pam”, and Brenda. 

As a farmer, Fritz raised crops, cattle, hogs, dairy and horses. Farming was a way of life that complimented his love of the outdoors and of the land, and he enjoyed seeing the changing landscape throughout the seasons and the years. Even after retirement, he continued helping on the farm. 

Horses were also a significant part of his life, and Fritz hosted a great number of trail rides through the magnificent, wooded hills of his property, including the annual Winneshiek Trail Ride. He also traveled with friends several times to ride in Wyoming and Montana, always drawn to the beauty of the mountains. He was known for driving his teams of horses, generously offering rides to his family and friends, as well as others in a volunteer capacity. His final trail ride was at age 90. 

Fritz shared his passion for the outdoors with his family, and he and Jo Ann taught their children the value of nature. Most importantly, he and Jo Ann taught them the values of family, faith and love. A member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church since 1955, Fritz honored his Catholic faith throughout his life, attending Mass almost without fail and praying the rosary right up to the end. 

Fritz always looked forward to being with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They cherished Christmas Day, annual summer camp, and time with his siblings, extended family, and friends. He was known for his generosity toward others, volunteerism in the community, teaching kids how to ride a horse, telling a good joke, and of course playing euchre and “500” up until the final weeks of his life. (Maybe you’ll get your perfect “10 no trump” hand in Heaven, Dad!) He was also an avid coon and deer hunter, having missed just one deer season from 1954 to 2021. He and Jo Ann continued to dance together throughout the years, with their final dance to “Could I Have This Dance for the Rest of My Life” occurring during their 70th wedding anniversary. 

Fritz is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jo Ann; seven children, Cheryl (Stan) Von Ruden of Norwalk, WI, Darrel (Kristi) Massman of Waupaca, WI, Tom Massman (Theresa Stortz) of Decorah, IA, Mary (Peter) Keller of Rochester, MN, Jesse (Val) Massman of Decorah,IA, Pam (John) Anderson of Decorah and Brenda (Ted) Huot of Northfield, MN; 21 grandchildren, Dustin (Heidi) Von Ruden, Kyle (Heather) Von Ruden, Hannah (Jim) Girard, Aaron Massman, Ellyn (Bill) Pfalzgraf, Laura Kirchman, Jordan (Kayla) Massman, Travis (Stacy) Massman, Valerie (Joe) Mergen, Stephanie (Matt) Donovan, Adam Cline, Cody Massman (Bri Sivesind), Jamie Klepper, Kaytlin (Landon) Ashbacher, Jessica (Jon) Copeman, Brandon (Casey) Anderson, Dalton Anderson, Jaden (Mason) Falck, Skuyler Ward, Rainah Ward and Aspenn Ward; step-grandchildren, Bre Kingsbury, Cassie Willson and Izzy Kingsbury; 32 great-grandchildren; siblings, Albin Massman, Sister Marian Massman and Leo Massman; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Massman, Iva Nell Pavlovec, Betty Hackman and Dora Lee Terry; brother-in-law, Lowell Loesch, and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lucy Massman; siblings, James in infancy, Donald Massman, Helen Loesch, Laverne Massman and Cynthia Tillman; father- and mother-in-law, Vincent and Elizabeth Junk; sisters-in-law, Verna Massman, Julia Massman, Barb Massman, Anna Mae Hageman, Carol Jean Winter and Rita Lou Einck; brothers-in-law, Robert Tillman, Lee Junk, Ernest Hageman, Jerome Einck, Alfred Pavlovec, Donny Winter and Robert Terry; and grandsons, Jacob and Evan, in infancy.