ALFRED J. ‘FRITZ’ STRANSKY, 85, lost his long battle with cancer on Tuesday January 4, 2005 at his home in Sedro-Woolley surrounded by his wife and extended family.
He was born on January 9, 1919 in Dwight, Nebraska, the first of six children of Alfred & Eleanor Hottovey Stransky. He was raised and worked on the family farm in Nebraska.
Fritz joined the U.S. Army in January 1941 as a radio operator and was stationed in the Philippines when WW II was declared. In May of 1942 he was taken prisoner and was held as a prisoner of war. For the next 3 1/2 years he was held in the Philippines and was part of the Batan Death March. He was then taken to Japan where he was forced to work in the shipyards and build railroads.     He was discharged in March of 1946.  In 1947 he was united in marriage to Lorraine Consbruck and they made their home in San Diego, CA.

In 1987 Fritz came to Sedro-Woolley to visit his brother, George, and there he met Agnes McDougle.  They were married on July 29, 1989 in Sedro-Woolley where they continued to make their home.

For many years Fritz worked as a carpenter doing home & building construction.  He enjoyed wood working and delighted his family and friends with handmade wooden crafts; also gardening, working crossword puzzles, cooking and sports.   He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, a member of the George Baldridge Post 43, American Legion in Sedro-Woolley and the Carpenter’s Union, Local 547.

He is survived by his wife, Agnes at the family home in Sedro-Woolley.  His son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Alfred & Jeannie Stransky and his two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda & Gary Page and Barbara & Carlos Ozzimo.  Two sisters, Dorothy McKinney and Rose Marie Dunn and one brother, Les Stransky and his wife Troy and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Stransky-Robinson.  His extended famioly, Bonnie Hooper (Dave), Lyle McDougle (Deanna), Diana Reger, Janet Joy (Mike) and Gayle Poole (Fred).  With extended family Fritz had 22 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces & nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife,Lorraine and two brothers, George & Bernard Stransky. Inurnment services were held in the spring of 2005.