Fritz E. Eichholz

June 13, 1924 to November 28, 2017

Dad was born with red hair, that's how he got his nickname. He was born and raised In Kansas City, Missouri. His parents were divorced when he was very young so he and his Dad moved in with his grandparents. He had a sister who lived with his mother’s family.

His first job was delivering groceries at age 12 for $2.00 a week, which he had to give to his grandmother to help pay bills. At this time, he lived next door to our Mom - Pauline. His grandmother took in laundry, so she taught our Dad to sew and crochet. He went to East High School but did not graduate because he enlisted In the Navy at age 17, shortly after Pearl Harbor... He later got his GED.

Prior to Joining the Navy, he played on the New York Yankees baseball farm team, which was called the Kansas City Blues. He played third base. He had to quit because of the war in 1941. He played with Phil Rezuto, Jerry Priddy, Don Demaglo and Tiny Bonham, who all became Yankees In 1943.

He was a Navy parachute rigger in the South Pacific from 1943-1945. He was assigned temporarily to a Marine unit... He was with them for 2½ years. He jumped out of an airplane 268 times. He was wounded in April 1945.

After the war he went to Gresham Sheet Metal Company where his father also worked. He married Pauline, raised a family and worked at Gresham for 35 years.

They Joined the Covenant Presbyterian Church in 1950 and became very active In the Mariners Group. There were seven couples and their families that became fast friends and called themselves “The Gang”. The Gang did everything together. Most of their kids graduated from Center High School and are still in contact with each other, however most of the parents have passed on.

They lived on 101st Street in South Kansas City. After 50 years or so, Dad was called the '"Mayor" of the block. He knew all his neighbors very well. He planted beautiful gardens in his back yard, both flowers and vegetables.

After Mom passed, Dad got Involved with a Patriots group. He was very proud of being a WWII veteran. He never met a stranger and loved to talk to EVERYONE. He will be greatly missed.

Fritz is survived by his daughter and son, two grandsons and their families, including six great

grandchildren.

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ESTHER PAULINE (BROWN) EICHHOLZ

June 13, 1926 to December 6, 2013

Her family nicknamed her DOLLY, and called her that, even when she was a grown women.

She grew up in Kansas City with her father, step mother, three sisters and her brother. Esther was the oldest. She graduated from Southwest High School in 1943. Her father remarried and another brother and sister were added to the family.

Fritz (RED) Eichholz was literally the boy next door. They lived next door to each other for ten years.

Red and Dolly (Pauline) were married April 13, 1946 in Olathe, Kansas.

She had various jobs before she became a full time mom. They had two children, Linda and Richard. Dad worked three jobs so Mom could stay home with us.

She was involved in the Brownies, Boy Scouts, Mariners Church Group and the PTA. She was Linda's brownie leader through Curve bar in Girl Scouts, which was seven years.

She was very Artistic and loved to sew and she was very good at it. She made most of Linda's clothes.

She went to work a Business Supply Co. in 1959 and continued to work there, for 31 years until she retired.

Her passion was her family. Whenever we went on vacation, we went to see her sisters or her brother. She was a great Mom and Wife. She had the patience of a Saint and everyone loved her.

There will be a Celebration of Life for both Fritz and Pauline on Tuesday, December 12th at 7:00 p.m. at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64145. A Visitation will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. prior to the service. Please dress casual.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the Girl Scouts of America or the Disabled American Veterans.