DIXON — The hearse for John Fritts, former Lee County treasurer, passed the Old Lee County Courthouse on the way to a burial at Oakwood Cemetery, trailed by a long line of cars that made up the funeral procession.
A funeral Mass was held Saturday morning at St. Anne Catholic Church in Dixon.
Fritts, 76, was elected treasurer in 1994 and served for 24 years before retiring. He was also a former Lee County Board member and Republican precinct committeeman.
At the time of his death in a crash near Earlville, he was serving as campaign manager for cousin Brad Fritts, who’s running for state representative in the 74th District.
Fritts was a farmer by profession. He was also leader of the Palmyra Hillbillies 4-H club for 35 years as well as a member of the Lee County Farm Bureau, St. Anne Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Dixon Kiwanis Club, Illinois County Treasurer’s Association, and the Lee County Council on Aging.
Fritts was a longtime IHSA sports official in four sports, basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer. He is fondly remembered for his warm personality and smile.