Enno E Fritz

Enno Eugene Fritz, 70, of Lakewood, Colorado, died October 4, 2022, following heart surgery. He was born in Waseca, Minnesota, on March 27, 1952, the youngest child of Irene and Emery Fritz’s seven children.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lynn Fritz, his children, Alec Fritz, of Lakewood, Colorado, and Kara (Mark) Murphy, and his two grandchildren, Zoe and Max Murphy, of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Enno moved to Denver in the early 1970s after graduating from high school in Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor’s and then a Master’s degree in 1984 and 2007, both in Business Administration from Regis University.

He met his wife, Lynn Rhodes, at a party in 1981. Lynn said she knew after their first dance she’d marry him. They wed just a year later. Kara was Lynn’s daughter from a previous marriage and Alec joined the family in 1986.

Enno and Lynn purchased a one-acre fixer-upper in Lakewood in 1985. They remodeled the house and property entirely over the next ten years, turning it into a beautiful home. Enno continued house projects up until his death, most recently adding on a sunroom and redesigning a former office into a dining room.

Enno worked at COBE Laboratories for many years before setting off on his own as an entrepreneur. He combined his love of business with his love of coffee and launched a business that was one of the first in the Denver area to import espresso machines from Italy.

In later years, he concentrated on coffee roasting, as well as coffee and espresso machine repair. He did it all from his Lakewood home, often with his son Alec by his side. The fire department was called by neighbors on at least one occasion when smoke was seen coming from his workshop. There was no fire — just smoke from roasting coffee. He made good with the firefighters by offering them free coffee on the spot.

Avid travelers since their first trip overseas as honeymooners, Enno and Lynn have visited more than 20 countries together, including memorable adventures in Africa, Russia and Egypt. Their most recent trip, only a few months ago, was a cruise in the northern islands of Scotland and Norway.

Enno was typically the life of the party, and loved to tell stories of his travels, entertaining guests over red wine and scotch. He also loved the Denver Broncos, cooking steaks on his Traeger grill, and playing nearly daily games of Carcassonne with his wife. (We will remain silent on the win-loss ratio.)

Enno was also devoted to his family. He and Lynn made several trips a year to keep up with their grandchildren and their parents. After Covid vaccines were released, Enno and Lynn made a pledge to visit all their siblings — 13 combined — and we’re so glad he succeeded at that goal.

Along with his wife, children and grandchildren, Enno is survived by six siblings, Myra Battenfeld, Loren (Marlene) Fritz, Curtis (Jo) Fritz, Paul (Cheryl) Fritz, Mary Reid, and Marlene Parrot, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and Lynn’s extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother-in-laws, Russell Battenfeld (Myra), William Reid (Mary) and Robert Parrott (Marlene).

Enno will be remembered at an open house at his home from 4-7 pm. on November 5. Family and friends are invited. Jackson Browne, Van Morrison and John Denver will be the music of choice that night, as Enno requested.

Enno’s mother taught him planting trees was a gift for the next generation. He spoke of that often as he transformed the bare acre of their home into a park filled with his favorite trees. Memorials in his name will continue that legacy. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to plant a tree in Enno’s memory in your own yard, or make a donation to one of the suggested organizations below.