Darren Saggau Fritz was born March 22, 1971, in Fairmont, Minn. He was the son of Burdean and Valda Fritz. He attended school at St. Paul’s Lutheran School (Wilbert) and Ceylon High School. He was a very active student/athlete and participated in football, basketball, baseball, etc. Darren graduated from Ceylon High School with the class of 1989. With baseball scholarships in hand, Darren attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa. After graduating from Iowa Lakes, he attended Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn., also on a baseball scholarship.

On Nov. 6, 1999, Darren was united in marriage to Pam (Giles) Fritz at Trinity Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn. The couple made their home in Owatonna, Minn., before moving to their farm in Livermore, Iowa, where they raised their three girls, Taylor, Tori and Jordyn. They divorced in 2019.

Darren’s love for the family farm and agriculture itself brought him to start out his ag career at the Cannon Valley Coop in the grain elevator. He ended his 16 years with Cannon Valley as Coop Manager at the Hayfield, Minn., location.

In 2009, Darren and family moved to Iowa to join the Gold Eagle Coop Team as Grain Merchandiser. He saw his Gold Eagle co-workers and the farmers he worked with as his extended family. He truly felt he hit the jackpot when he joined Gold Eagle.

Darren was a member of Immanuel Lutheran church in Livermore, Iowa. He enjoyed playing cards, “throwing bags” grilling, and being with family. He was a HUGE Minnesota Vikings’ fan but also a fan of all sports. He came out on top of several Fantasy Football and Final 4 competitions. What brought him the most joy, though, were his three girls. It didn’t matter if it was attending one of their sporting events or just watching Yellowstone. They were his life.

Left to cherish his memory are “his girls”: Taylor (Anthony), Tori and Jordyn; siblings: Delos (Jodi) Fritz, Dale Fritz, David (Tammy) Fritz, Daneen (Kent) Usgaard and Daniel (Sheri) Fritz; nieces and nephews: Matthew, Alexander, Heather, Ryan, Benjamin, Christina, April, Brittany, Jacob, Rachel, Kale, Kade, Kolten and Kellen; many great nieces and nephews; aunt, Beatrice Graves; many cousins and lastly his faithful cat, Hickory, and dog, Max.

Darren was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. www.masonlindhart.com

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]