Last month, we reported that the former American Pickers star Frank Fritz was reportedly relying on “long-term nursing care” two years after suffering from a stroke.
Since then, rumors have been swirling that Fritz, 58, is actually dead.
Now, a friend of Fritz’s has broken her silence to address these rumors. Have no fear: Frank Fritz is alive!
Fritz’s Friend Addresses Death Rumors
The rumors in question stemmed from a website that appeared on Google last week with the title “In Memory Of Frank Fritz: A Journey Through His Life And Legacy.” Devastated fans then took to Fritz’s Instagram page to pay tribute to him.
A friend of Fritz’s, Annette Oberlander Willows, has since taken to Facebook to shoot these rumors down.
“Last night he was gobbling down a fudge ice cream so again he is not dead,” she wrote.
Snacking on ice cream? It sounds like he’s very much alive!
“The rumors are still out there but we have been dealing with this a lot over the last 2 years these rumors seem to be a little stronger than most in the past,” she added.
It should be noted that Oberlander Willows is listed as an admin on Fritz’s fan page, so she is a trusted confidante.
‘If Frank Was To Die…’
In her post, Oberlander Willows assured fans that if Fritz were to die, his friends would announce his death on social media once his loved ones had been informed.
“If Frank was to die as his friends, we would like to have a little time to inform all his very best friends which is a lot,” she said. “And then you will read it on this page also from our local newspaper called Quad City Times.”
“I assure the time between his death and my announcement will be brief,” she continued. “It is important to me that his close friends come first than his beloved fans and our local people that have supported him from day one.”
Another source close to Fritz has confirmed that he is indeed alive.
“It’s all a bunch of bull. Don’t know where it came from,” this insider told The Sun. “Frank has been good, been eating ice cream and watching the Olympics.”
Related: Sharon Stone Reveals She Lost $18 Million After Nearly Dying From Stroke – ‘I Had Zero Money’
Fritz’s Stroke
Fritz suffered a stroke at his Le Claire, Iowa home back in July of 2022. His former American Pickers co-star and friend Mike Wolfe addressed this stroke on Facebook at the time.
“I have been very private in the past year in regards to Frank’s life and the journey he’s been on,” he wrote. “There have been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to pray for my friend.”
Since then, Fritz has been under a conservatorship and a guardianship. He has also been in and out of the hospital and rehabilitation facilities. It was revealed last month that Fritz relies on “skilled” and “long-term” nursing care to this day.
While it’s a relief to learn that Fritz is still alive, this is clearly a very difficult time for him. Please join us in saying a prayer for Fritz as he continues his recovery process!
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