Adolph “Fred” Wirz Jr., 80, of Mead, Okla., passed away peacefully at his home on December 23, 2023. Born on July 29, 1943, in Seymour, Texas, to Adolph Fred Wirz and Hazel Bullion Wirz, Fred grew up in Seymour, Texas, where he earned the distinguished award of becoming an Eagle Scout.
In 1961, Fred graduated Seymour High School and went on to attend the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, where Fred obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in June 1965, and then his Masters’ of Business Administration in August 1966. After graduation, Fred farmed around Baylor County, Texas and Tillman County, Okla. At times, Fred farmed more than 2,000 acres of land by himself. Fred never did anything 50 percent – he always gave whatever it was he was doing 100 percent.
In his younger days,Fred was a force to be reckoned with, both physically and verbally. Fred came from the school of tough love and anyone that dealt with Fred for very long knew it. If a person got on Fred’s bad side they knew it immediately. Fred was highly intelligent and he set high expectations and standards for others around him. He did not draw attention to it, but Fred was also a very generous person to those who took care of and helped him and others.
Fred was a lifelong outdoorsman. Fred was an avid hunter and an excellent marksman. When he was younger, Fred owned bird dogs and would always enjoy hunting birds with friends. Fred was a great deer hunter; over the years Fred harvested several trophy bucks. Fred loved to hunt wild hogs and could skin a hog out in no time at all. Fred also loved to fish. After he retired from farming he left Tillman County and moved to Bryan County, Okla., just so he would be closer to Lake Texoma to fish. Once in Bryan County, Fred bought a boat and for the longest time, if you wanted to visit with Fred, you need look no further than the lake where he spent most of his days fishing. When Fred was not hunting or fishing, he spent time outdoors gardening.
Fred loved animals. After his health prevented him from hunting and fishing, you could find Fred wherever his dog “Rufus” was. Fred loved “Rufus.” Some would say that Fred loved Rufus more than most people Fred knew, and everyone knew it.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph Fred Wirz and Hazel Bullion Wirz.
He leaves behind his two sons, Chad Wirz and wife Auske, of Richmond, Va., and Adolf Fred “Trey” Wirz, III of Sherman, Texas; four grandchildren: Elena Catherine Wirz, Andrew John Wirz, Jaxon Xavier Wirz, and Kennedy Estelle Wirz. Fred also leaves behind several friends with whom he was very close.
Funeral Services are set for 2 p.m. on December 27, 2023, at Brown’s Funeral Service Chapel in Durant. Pastor Aaron McAdams to officiate. Visitation is set for 1 p.m. before the Funeral Service.
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service of Durant.