Frederick Joseph Adams, Sr.

Frederick “Fritz” Adams, 91, of Custer, SD, passed away Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Agrace Hospice Care in Fitchburg, WI.

Fritz was born November 5, 1931, in Omaha, NE, the son of Emerson and Arlene Adams. He was a proud graduate of Central High School. He later attended Grinnell College, the University of Omaha and the University of Nebraska. He married Paula Jean King on December 26, 1951. After graduating, Fritz worked on a dairy farm near Graettinger, Iowa, before buying his own dairy farm near Syracuse, NE. After ten years, Fritz sold the farm and moved his family to North Platte, NE, where he worked as a University of Nebraska extension agent. Three years later, he took a job as an appraiser for the State of Nebraska and moved to Alliance, NE, where he later started his own real estate appraisal business. Fritz and Paula moved to their retirement property near Custer, SD, in 1991.

The pair spent much of their retirement traveling around the country and camping in places like the Oregon coast, south Texas, and the boundary waters in Minnesota. Fritz and Paula also were avid volksmarchers and did the 10K hikes in all 48 contiguous states in the U.S. On top of that, the couple became big fans of bluegrass music and attended festivals across the country. Fritz was particularly proud of the retirement home in the beautiful Black Hills.

Fritz is survived by his daughter, Nancy Adams of Madison, WI; sons, Rick (Lynda) of Omaha and Tom (Karen) Adams of New Castle, DE; 10 grandchildren, Liz (Kevin) Horton of Mt. Juliet, TN; Katie Brew of Stevens Point, WI; Eric Adams of Portland, OR; Rachel Adams of Los Angeles, CA.; Zachary Adams of Longmont, CO; Benjamin Adams of Omaha, NE; Greg Adams of Philadelphia, PA; Tony (Elizabeth) Adams of Granville, OH; Alex (Billie) Adams of York, NE; and Maggie (Brad) Seeger of Bowling Green, OH; and six great grandchildren.

Fritz was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Paula Adams (nee King); parents; sister, Sue Belden; brother, Stoney Adams; and sister-in-law, Johnnie Adams.

A family celebration of Fritz’s life will be held as a graveside service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Omaha, NE, in the spring. Memorials in Fritz’s name can be given to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org) or Agrace Hospice Care (www.agrace.org).