Jenny Kay Fritsch (Osburn), 82, of Sunman-IN, passed away July 29th, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born July 2nd, 1940, in Batesville-IN to Clarence “Tim” and Delta (Sunman) Osburn. On February 13, 1960, she married James E Fritsch, of Sunman, at the St Nicholas Catholic Church, where they were lifelong members. They celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage before his passing in November of 2010.
Jenny was a 1958 graduate of Sunman High School. During her school years, she participated in many pageants, activities, and shows that were common at the time. Upon graduation, she matriculated to Ball State Teachers College, where she focused on becoming an elementary teacher. However, her love for Jim was too great – she left Ball State, and they were married in 1960. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Jenny had many roles: Mother of three, bookkeeper, babysitter, and caretaker of her mother (along with her sister Ginger Hartman). In the late 1970s, with the children off to school, she re-entered the workforce as a Teacher’s Aid for Special Needs Children, a position she loved dearly and would retire from after 29 years of service. She also participated in many charitable activities, but the one she felt made one of the biggest differences in the community was the Sunman Area Life Squad, of which she was a founding member and the radio operator for many years.
In retirement, Jenny and Jim spent more time together, enjoying various activities from gardening and canning to short-term travel. She was the primary caregiver and the positive attitude generator while Jim battled cancer for many years. Meanwhile, she continued the annual marathon multi-day bicycle rides with her sister Ginger and her two close friends Wanda Retzner and Elaine Knueven, eventually completing trips across 36 States since they began in 1986. Their final ride was in 2003. Jenny then began to travel to many places including the Vatican City, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and many locations across the USA. During retirement, she helped found the “Sunman Beautification Committee” with her group of friends. She also wrote a column in the Beacon Journal about happenings around Sunman called “Sisters Ugly”, with her sister Ginger. In her later years, she spent most of her time focusing on grandchildren but still found time to “man the phones” for Safe Passage Inc. and the Pregnancy Crisis hotline, always continuing to reach out and help people.
Jenny loved being a wife and mother. She was the mother of three children: Mike (Cris) of Milan, IN; Kelli Arnold of New Castle, IN; and Marti (Bob) Tracy of Batesville, IN. She was the grandmother “Nana” to 4 grandchildren (Jackson, Bobby, Ayden, and Alyssa), had many nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law, Don Hartman and Jerry Hartman, many cousins, life-long friends, and Jingles – her companion cat. She was preceded in death by her husband James Fritsch, her sister Ginger (Osburn) Hartman, her Sister-in-law Mary (Fritsch) Hartman, her parents Tim and Delta Osburn, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law John Fritsch and Helen (Federle) Fritsch, and many other family members.
Jenny will be remembered as someone who always wanted to help people, wanted everyone to be happy, and was charitable with her time and finances. Honoring Jenny’s wishes, there will not be a visitation, but everyone is invited to celebrate her life at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Sunman, on Friday, August 5th, at 11.00 AM EDT with Father Whittington officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Nicholas Church.
For more information or sign the online guest book go to www.cookrosenberger.com. Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve Jenny’s Family.