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Rolland Dean Fritsche, 86, beloved husband of Joyce Fritsche for 43 years, peacefully passed away at home in Marietta, Ohio, on January 2, 2026.
Dean was born on May 21, 1939, to Rolland and Winifred Fritsche and grew up on the family farm in Devola, Ohio.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, enlisting in September 1956. During his service, Dean worked as an airplane electrician and was stationed in locations including South Korea and California. He received an honorable discharge in 1960.
Dean worked for many years as a skilled automobile mechanic in Marietta and later opened his own business repairing and restoring vehicles.
Dean generously shared his mechanical knowledge and was always willing to help family, friends, and neighbors with car repairs or projects around the home. As a talented and skilled mechanic, there were very few things he could not fix.
Dean enjoyed motorcycles and adventure and dearly loved his dogs. He was known for telling the same jokes over and over with a sparkle in his eye, always followed by his contagious laugh that brought smiles to those around him.
Dean is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Fritsche; his sister, Rebecca Fritsche of Mission, Texas; his children, Neil Fritsche (Debbie) of Marietta, Gale Fritsche of Cottekill, New York, and Alisa Hornsby of Marietta; his stepchildren, Tracey Wilson (Shawn), Tonya Miller (Jeremy), and Brian Swartz (Kris); as well as eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his former wife, June Fritsche.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolland and Winifred Fritsche, and his brothers, Gale Ray Fritsche and Fred Fritsche.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Wednesday, January, 7, 2026, at Hadley Funeral Home Reno Chapel, 1021 Pike St., Marietta, OH, with Lloyd Westbrook officiating, burial to follow at East Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until the time of service on Wednesday. Online condolences may be made at www.hadleyfh.com.