Jean Lois (Heffel) Fritschen, 79 of Dorrance, Kansas died Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Jean was born February 28, 1934 on the family farm near Dorrance, Kansas the daughter of Edward and Irene (Buehler) Heffel.  She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Dorrance High School and then attended Brown-Mackie College in Salina.

Jean was united in marriage to William “Bill” Fritschen on September 21, 1954 in Russell, Kansas.  This union was blessed with five children; Sherry, Mike, Steve, Tom and Ron.  They made their home in Ft. Worth, Texas while Bill was in the military then moved to Dorrance.  Bill preceded her in death on April 21, 2009.

Jean was an administrative assistant for AGCO from 1972 to 1997.  She also was the Russell County Sheriff Dispatcher for a few years and a Steno Clerk for KAW Pipeline But her main occupation in life was taking care of her children and grandchildren.

Jean was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dorrance and the Altar Society.  She also belonged to the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240 Ladies Auxiliary.  She enjoyed spending time outside gardening, camping at the lake, sewing, knitting, doing arts and craft projects and socializing and dancing.

Jean’s surviving family include her daughter, Sherry Homeier (Will) of Russell, Kansas; four sons, Mike Fritschen of Beaumont, Texas, Steve Fritschen (Paula) of Dorrance, Kansas, Tom Fritschen (Cindy) of Lawrence, Kansas and Ron Fritschen (Kim) of Russell, Kansas; brother, Edward Heffel of Dorrance, Kansas; four sisters, Shirley Brozek of Livingston, Montana, Sherrill Marcotte of Kansas, Eleanor Libal of Loveland, Colorado, Lynette Lewis of Evergreen, Colorado; 15 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, granddaughter Kerra Fritschen and great granddaughter Katherine Myers.

Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, January 6, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dorrance.  Burial will follow at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be from noon to 8 PM Sunday, January 5, 2014 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell.  A Vigil will be held at 7 PM Sunday at the mortuary.  Memorials have been established with St. Joseph Cemetery Fund or the Paralyzed Veterans of America.  Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary who is in charge of these arrangements.