Fritz Hirter, Iii

Fritz (Sonny) Hirter, III died September 24, 2014, in Hospice Care at Research Medical Center as a result of serious spinal injuries sustained in a fall at his residence last week. Born in St. Joseph, Mo., on Sept. 2, 1948, he was the second child of Fritz and Geraldine Hirter. He graduated from Central High School and then completed his degrees at University of Central Missouri-Warrensburg. He began his career in Kansas City in the jewelry business at Crown Center. He later worked for the US EPA, Office of Public Affairs, for 20 years before retiring in 2010. Fritz served as Vice President of 49/63 Neighborhood Coalition and also VP of Rockhill Ridge. A long- time member of the St. Joseph Gruetli-Verein and the KC Swiss Society, he was proud of his heritage and visited Switzerland with other family members. He will be fondly remembered for his wit, intelligence and kindness. We will miss his smile, his jokes and the elegant dishes he prepared with flair. Always concerned with presentation, his table was set with flowers and the plates appropriately garnished. His screensaver showcased this quote from Auntie Mame: "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!" He is survived by his sister, Linda (David A.) Drollinger of KCMO, nephew, Mark (Barbara) Drollinger of Cypress, Texas, niece, Darcy (Jeff) Gilbert and their children Jordan, Lindsey and Jackson of KCMO, stepmother, Helen Miller Hirter of St. Joseph, and numerous cousins. He will be sorely missed on his block by many friends, young and old, and especially his next-door neighbor, Pat Galloway. Fritz has been cremated. A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date. The family suggests instead of flowers, you consider a donation to Kansas City Swiss Society or to a dachshund rescue/no-kill shelter