Dean "Fitz" FitzGerald

AuTrain

Dean J. “Fitz” FitzGerald, age 75, of AuTrain, died Thursday, April 21, 2016 at UP Health Systems – Marquette. He was born on June 2, 1940 in San Francisco, CA to the late Henry “Fitz” and Jolanda “Joanna” (Wisniewski) FitzGerald.  Fitz’s family moved to Hamtramck, MI when he was young.  He began working as an iron worker as a teen before he entered into the United States Army.  Fitz served in the 101st Airborne Division and was a Green Beret.  He was trained as a Medical Specialist and served in Laos and Vietnam, earning three Purple Hearts, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Soldier Medal and the Silver Star with V Device.  After being honorably discharged, Fitz returned to iron working, bringing him from Pennsylvania, to Colorado, and back to Detroit to work at Detroit Edison. It was there, he became an electrician, the job he held at his retirement in 1990.  Fitz was the leader of a dance band where he played the trumpet, and while living in Flat Rock, he was very involved in Scouting serving as a Troop Leader.  He had vacationed in Munising multiple times and fell in love with the area and the people.  Fitz then moved to Munising and owned and operated Creative Photographic Imaging.  After his move to Munising, Fitz met his wife Carol Campbell and they were married on June 12, 1999.  They enjoyed traveling out west in their motor home, and volunteering in the Visitor Center at the Seney Wildlife Refuge.  Fitz became an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church.  Fitz was a member of the American Legion Post 131.  He served as the Honor Guard Coordinator from 1997 until the time of his death.  Fitz took great pride in coordinating and making sure our veterans were given the proper send off, and the military honors which they so greatly deserved.  Rain, snow, scorching heat, or swarms of blackflies, Fitz served at over four hundred military funeral services for our Alger County Veterans.

He is survived by his wife – Carol Campbell of AuTrain; sons – Jon, Adam (Kristy), and Phillip Fitzgerald; adopted children Tony Fitzgerald and Trudy (Steve) Bell; step-children – Paul (Cindy) Campbell, Eileen (John) Beck, and Betty (Jeff) Bennett, Tim Hooper, Don Hooper, and Randy Hooper; and many grandchildren.  Fitz was preceded in death by his parents, brother Hubert Fitzgerald, grandson – Danny Beck, great-granddaughter Emmily Hooper, and step-children Rick Hooper and Terry Manzella.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m.  Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Fitz’s memorial service at the funeral home beginning at 2:00 p.m. The American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors immediately after the service at the Serenity Pines Cemetery in AuTrain.  In lieu of flowers memorials in Fitz’s name may be made to the American Legion Honor Guard.