Eva Della Fritz

   Eva Della Fritz, age 64 of Park Rapids, MN, passed away unexpectedly at her home near Park Rapids, MN having died in her sleep early Friday morning, September 15, 2017 and waking up in the full glory and splendor of heaven.    Eva was born on October 9, 1952 at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids and grew up on the family farm in Straight River Township south of Park Rapids. As a girl she attended public school in Park Rapids and was active with the youth of the First Baptist Church in Park Rapids and also the Straight River Bible Chapel near her home. Her mother died while Eva was just a young teenager and being the oldest in her family the duties of being a mother became hers. She graduated from the Park Rapids Public High School with the class of 1970 and then went on to attend the Oak Hills Bible College in Bemidji for two years. On March 4, 1971, Eva was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Dennis Arthur James at the First Baptist Church in Park Rapids. Their union was blessed with five children: Faith, Hope, Charity, Lela and Marvin. In addition to caring for her new husband and babies, Eva went on to attend Nurses Training in Brainerd where she became a registered nurse in 1974. Her nursing career began at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids where she devoted her energetic talents for a number of years until moving to North Carolina where she worked with terminally ill children for a time. In 1988, she returned to Park Rapids where she resumed her nursing career with St. Joseph’s. For a time she worked at Blackduck and Bemidji, MN until being named the Director Of Nursing at the Johnson Nursing Home in Fosston until she ventured to the Minneapolis area where she worked in home health care and later rounded out her career working in home health care on the White Earth Indian Reservation and Caring Hands Home health of Park Rapids and for CK Home Health of Akeley until her retirement. In 2005, she was united in marriage to William D. Fritz at the Grace Community Church in Osage, MN. She and Bill were deeply involved in raising funds for the Sandy Hill Bible Camp of Fosston by organizing and leading a large wagon train from the Bible Camp all the way to the Itasca State Park Demonstration Grounds. She was a long time faithful member of the Grace Community Church in Osage where she was currently serving as a deaconess. She enjoyed her work as a Sunday school teacher there especially to young children. Each spring, she loved to plant a large vegetable garden which she would nurture into fruitful abundance for her family’s needs and to share with others less fortunate. Eva would often work late into the night knitting beautiful gifts for family and friends. Above all, the light of her life were her grandchildren who brought her much joy.    Eva will be lovingly remembered by her children: Faith (Robert) Acosca of Douglas, Wyoming, Hope (Brian) Christenson of Hopkins, MN, Charity (Oladoye Temitayo) of Park Rapids, MN, Lela Sanneh of Hawley, MN and Marvin James of Park Rapids; her ten precious grandchildren: Dale Wilkens, Sarah Wilkens, Victoria Acosta, Timothy and Michael Fieldsend, Bryce James, Oliver James, Maiya James, Taryn Nyangau and Willow Sanneh; her two sisters: Cathy LaGue of Mahnomen, MN and Rachel Lampl of Rollag, MN; her two brothers: Steve Hawks of Mahnomen, MN and Curt Hawks of Park Rapids; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.    Eva was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Pat Hawks and one brother, Timothy Hawks; as well as a grandson, Wyatt and her former husband, Dennis James who just died this past August 23rd.