Marcia D. Fritzmeier
Sunday, February 9, 1947
Date of Death:
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Age:
76 years old
Sunday, February 9, 1947
Date of Death:
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Age:
76 years old
Sunday, February 9, 1947
Date of Death:
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Age:
76 years old
Marcia D. Fritzmeier
Marcia D. Fritzmeier, age 76, of Rochester, MN passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on January 4, 2024, after a lengthy battle with dementia.
Marcia was born on February 9, 1947, in Rochester to Everett and Eileen (Brackenbury) Makepeace. She grew up in Rochester and attended RPS and graduated from John Marshall in 1965. After high school she studied Pte-Veterinary Tech at Rochester Community and Tech College.
In July of 1966 she married Gary Fritzmeier and they moved to Rockford, IL to work for Amerock Corp. for four years. After moving back to Rochester, she worked at Mayo until her retirement. She volunteered bringing therapy dogs into hospitals and schools. She also tested and helped train therapy dogs for Therapy Dogs International. While at Mayo, Marcia was the founder of Mayo Clinic Caring Canines. She also trained a dog to become Minnesota’s first Facility Trained Service Dog certified by Can Do Canine Service Dogs. Her dog, Dr. Jack, helped numerous patients and provided Marcia the opportunity to meet many important people like, Ty Warner, President Bush and Barabara Bush, Laura Bush and His Holiness the Dalai Lama while working with Dr. Jack.
Marcia is survived by her husband of 57 years, Gary F. Fritzmeier; son, Marc (Dana) Fritzmeier; and daughter, Whitney (Mark) Jewison; 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the Mayo staff that helped and the amazing care she received from Season’s Hospice Home Care.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home.
There will be a private family service at a later date at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Northern Lights Greyhound Adoption or Camp Companion.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
Condolences
The family of Marcia D. Fritzmeier has received the following condolences.
RIP……so happy to had the pleasure of working with you in PMR. Many chats. Mostly about dogs being dog lovers. Jack was so lucky to have you in his precious life. ?
My deepest sympathy. Marcia touched many lives in such profound ways.
Marcia was a life changing friend to me and my therapy dog Koda. She certified Koda and then we became TDI testing helpers for many years with Marcia. Thanks to Marcia, Koda and I provided animal therapy services at Mayo, Olmsted hospital and the state prison.
My heart goes out to the family for your loss.
I was so sad to find out that Marcia had passed. She and I spent a lot/most coffee breaks together while she worked with me on West 9 and West 11. I was so proud to call Marcia my friend. She was so kind and caring, and such a dog lover (all animals really). She really took care of everyone and everything that needed her. She touched so many lives during her too-short life. She will be missed by so many--I'm one of the many. Take good care Fritzmeier family. I know Marcia loved you all very much--it was much of our coffee conversations so long ago! Hugs.
My deepest sympathy. Marcia touched many lives in such profound ways.
Marcia was a life changing friend to me and my therapy dog Koda. She certified Koda and then we became TDI testing helpers for many years with Marcia. Thanks to Marcia, Koda and I provided animal therapy services at Mayo, Olmsted hospital and the state prison.
My heart goes out to the family for your loss.
I am sorry for your loss. I worked with Marcia at Olmsted Medical Center. She was a Canine Companion volunteer with Jack and Lucy.
I remember one story she told me. She was on-site for her annual flu vaccine requirement as a volunteer and as she was on her way out of the building with Lucy when she saw two women in the waiting area, one in tears. Being the person that Marcia was, she stopped to ask them if they were ok - she didn't have to do that, but she did.
She found out that one of them had a pregnancy loss. Marcia sat down next to the young woman and Lucy, knowing what her job was, sat in front of the young woman and did what she did best - was present. Both Lucy and Marcia were present for that patient to feel what she needed to feel at that time, without any judgement from anyone. That young woman hung onto Lucy for the comfort she desperately needed at that moment in time.
Therapy dogs bring such joy, but that joy also comes from their handlers. Marcia loved her dogs and we were privileged to have her as part of our program.
Dear Gary and family,
We know your thoughts are being flooded with warm memories of Marcia’s successful, exuberant life. We cherish the special time when we got to know Marcia in the spring of 1974, as I photographed her for a feature article in the Rochester Post Bulletin. We admired her dedication to family and her special bond with all animals.
Years later, Marcia’s wonderful sense of humor and gentle spirit was so evident as she guided us through the beginning phase of our life with an Airedale terrier, and the process to obtain a certified therapy dog! During our wonderful years at the Mayo Clinic, we were impressed with Marcia’s endless devotion to bring service animals to the forefront. And observed her miniature pinscher, Dr. Jack’s ‘life changing’ influence on the many patients at Mayo. What it has meant, and continues to mean, to countless people could never adequately be put in words.
We know that family and friends gone before will embrace Marcia in the Heavens! And of course, Dr. Jack and friends will be there with tails wagging to lead Marcia on her eternal life-embracing adventure.
Love, Randy & Mary Ziegler - Granbury, Texas
My friend ,Marcia, It was an honor to have known you since 2002. Your love for animals, family and Green Bay Packers was priceless. A friendship I will cherish forever.
i will miss our visits at your beautiful home . To Gary and family we are so very saddened by the loss of Marcia. with our sympathies
Trish and Jerry Rossman
Maverick, Chip and Connor
Gary and Family....so very sorry for your loss! Marcia was an inspiring woman, and her Caring Canine Animal Assisted Therapy Program lives and is flourishing because of her and Dr Jack! We are proud to carry on their work as best as we can. There is not a day that we Visit in Mayo that Dr Jack is not mentioned! What an amazing gift she has provided to all those she has touched in her time here on this earth. Thank you Marcia for leaving your legacy for us all to follow ! Your gifts will never be forgotten!
Shannon Carney-Wilson and Meyer TheTherapyDog
Marcia was so kind and thoughtful.
Her and Jack were a wonderful combo~
I met her many years ago when she brought Jack out to the Federal Medical Center to visit with the inmates. They were unbelievably thrilled! I remember one guy told me he hadn’t seen a dog in over 7 years. She came to the Mental Health building… but a lot of the General Population inmates were coming over to see Jack! Marcia was so kind and gracious to all of us ~ staff and inmates.
A beautiful person! ?
Gary, Marcia was a great lady! I saw her and Jack all the time when I worked on Rehab and her hard work making dogs a good thing for healing! Now they have a number of dogs and a small pony for those with allergies to dogs! She was a trail blazer and worked hard to make it a part of Mayo Clinic! So my sympathies go out to you and family.??
A wonderful person to have known, a beautiful soul. I remember her wedding, what a celebration it was. Let's remember her life and celebrate her life and memories.