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 twinkle in his eye over a glass of good or even bad wine.  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 Fort Dodge, Iowa, on March 29, 1934 to Fredric Edward (Rosie) Rosendahl and Anita 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 in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and the University of Colorado Boulder, Fritz served active-duty military in Fort Polk, Louisiana from 1956 to 1958 and then returned to the University of Iowa where he graduated with a degree in Economics.

After college, Fritz moved to Stockholm, Sweden where he married Elisabet 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 for First Federal Savings and Loan until 1987.

Summers in lake Okoboji were among his happiest times, whether he was on the tennis court, sailing, teeing off at Brooks Golf Course, or piloting his hot air balloon.  He was also hard to miss speeding around in his beloved 1967 Jaguar, 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 gaze at the sun as it slowly sank into the lake.  Hunting and fishing were a big part of his early life and he continued to hunt pheasant annually, mostly, he said, because they are so good to eat.

But it was South Africa that captured his heart.  Enchanted by its sweeping lagoons and perched up 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 the coast and forest meet, kept them coming year after year.

Yet, despite his love for adventure, his greatest treasures were his wife Nancy, 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 Rosendahl; his children, Jennifer Banta, Tracy Rhodes, John (Lindsey) Rosendahl, and Christina Rosendahl, and their families including grandchildren Brennan and Jackson Banta; Dylan (Helena), Tristan, and Juliet Rhodes; Anders and Basil Rosendahl; and Brooks and Sienna Firman; his brother James Edward (Jim) Rosendahl; numerous nephews and nieces; and dear friends from across the globe.  He is preceded in death by his sister, Mary Anita Juhl and his parents.

Anyone who knew him loved his smile, his humor, his laugh– his very being.  And we will miss him dearly.