Anne Mae Vincent Fritsche

Anne Mae Vincent Fritsche, 101, of South Haven died Sunday, August 21 at Countryside Nursing and Rehabilitation Community.

She was born November 28, 1909 on the family homestead near Stanley, North Dakota, to Michael and Rosa (Kenward) Irmen. Wanting a better education for their children, Mike and Rosa moved their family to Michigan during Anne’s senior year of high school. Anne graduated from Bangor High School in 1927, then attended a one-year Teacher Training program at Western Michigan University (eventually receiving her Bachelors Degree in education from WMU). Anne taught school for over 30 years, starting out at the country schools of Lawrence, Kendall, Jericho and Grand Junction. L.C. Mohr came to observe her class one day and hired her to teach in the South Haven Public Schools system. She taught first at Central School and then Lincoln School before retiring in 1974. She married Clarence Vincent in July 1935 and moved with him to Gary, Indiana, living there until his death in 1945. After his death she moved back to South Haven and married Alfred Fritsche in June 1954. Over the years Anne enjoyed crafts, crocheting, quilting, sewing, and flower gardening. Anne was never idle, and after retirement she traveled the world, including England, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France, Alaska and Ireland. Anne was a member of the Scott Club, the Retired Teachers Association and the First United Methodist Church of South Haven.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband –Clarence Vincent who died in 1945 and her 2nd husband – Alfred Fritsche who died in 1969; two brothers – Arthur and Ralph Irmen and one sister – Isabel Marr.

She is survived by two daughters – Kathleen (Edward) Hills and Madelene Collins both of South Haven, Michigan; two step-children – Don ( Sue ) Vincent of Illinois and Shirley Zaideman of Tampa, Kansas; five grandchildren – Cinda (Mark) Haney and Mike (Hope) Hills of Bangor and Mark (Irene) Hills and Charles (Dawn) Collins of South Haven, and Jonathan Collins of Virginia Beach, Virginia; five great grandchildren – Bruce Haney of Bangor, Korrie (Kris) Perkins of Lawton, Mark (Katie) Hills of Bangor, Michelle Hills of Kalamazoo, and Riley Collins of South Haven; and one great-great grandchild – Haydn Perkins of Lawton.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 25 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., with funeral services immediately following at 1:00 p.m., at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, the Rev. John Fisher officiating. Memorial contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.