In Loving Memory of Fredric Rosendahl (1934-2025)
Fredric (Fritz) Skewis Rosendahl passed away in Mt. Dora, Florida, at the age of 90. Fritz always had a captivating story on hand, often shared with a glass of wine and a twinkle in his eye. Yet one story he rarely told was his own. And what a story it was.
If a man could have lived a thousand lives, Fritz surely tried. Fritz travelled extensively and called Iowa, Louisiana, Sweden, Colorado, South Africa and New Mexico home at different points along the journey. A sportsman, banker, skier, aeronaut, motorcycle enthusiast and explorer of places less travelled, he embraced life with an insatiable curiosity and fearless spirit. He loved his family deeply and expressed it in the quiet everyday moments–by placing a steady hand on the shoulder or sharing an encouraging anecdote.
Born in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. On March 29, 1934, to Fredric Edward (Rosie) Rosendahl and Mary Skewis Rosendahl, Fritz grew up in a simpler time–hunting, fishing and roaming freely with the carefree spirit of a boy. He embraced both wonder and risk from a young age, something that continued and evolved into adulthood.
After stints at Cornell College and University of Colorado Boulder, Fritz served in the active-duty military in Ft. Polk, Louisiana, from 1956 to 1958. He then returned to the University of Iowa where he graduated with a degree in Economics.
After college, Fritz moved to Stockholm, Swede,n where he married Elisabeth de Vylder, had two children, Jennifer and Tracy, and worked for Sveriges Kredit Bank. In 1962 they returned to the USA and later divorced.
On November 25, 1972, Fritz married Nancy Jean Woltz. Together they had two children, John and Christina. He continued to work in the banking industry until 1987.
Summers at Lake Okoboji were among his happiest times, whether he was on the tennis court, boating, teeing off at Brooks Golf Course, or piloting his hot air balloon. He was hard to miss speeding around in his beloved 1967 Jaguar XKE, golf clubs riding shotgun. Okoboji was not just a place to him, it was a home base where he could revel in the company of family or just relax and enjoy an evening sunset. Hunting and fishing were a big part of his early life and he continued to hunt pheasant annually–mostly, he said, because they taste so good.
But it was South Africa that captured his heart. Enchanted by its sweeping lagoons and perched on a coastal cliff, Fritz and Nancy called Knysna, South Africa, home for nearly 30 years. The cherished friends, exquisite food and wine, pristine golf courses and stunning views where coast and forest meet, kept them coming year after year.
Yet, despite his love for adventure, his greatest treasures were his family and the friendships he so effortlessly forged along the way. Whether shaped by the world around him or simply the nature of his being, Fritz was a gentleman — kind, sturdy, entertaining and full of life until the very end. And though he has set off on his final adventure his spirit remains ever-present in a world that was made considerably more fun and interesting by his presence.
Fritz is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy; his children, Jennifer Banta, Tracy Rhodes, John Rosendahl and Christina Rosendahl and their families including grandchildren Brennan and Jack Banta; Dylan, Tristan and Juliet Rhodes; Anders and Basil Rosendahl; Brooks and Sienna Firman; his brother James Edward (Jim) Rosendahl and dear friends across the globe.
Anyone who knew him loved his smile, his humor, his laugh–his very being. And we will miss him dearly.