Friedrich Otto Gastreich

Born December 24, 1937, in New York City, Friedrich (Fritz) Otto Gastreich lived a life marked by devotion to his family and faith. Gracious and hardworking, Fritz was a great storyteller who loved music, took pride in his German heritage, and enjoyed traveling the world. 

Fritz grew up and lived most of his life in the Kansas City area. He attended Rockhurst High School and Rockhurst College at the Troost Campus. In high school, Fritz played varsity tennis. He graduated from college with a B.A. in Economics. Fritz also studied at the Goethe Institute in Murnau, Germany, and the Business College in Munster. After finishing his degrees, Fritz served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a drill sergeant. He worked his entire professional career as a Regional Merchandise Manager for Sears, Roebuck and Company, a position that took him to the Twin Cities in Minnesota, where he and his family lived for twenty years. On returning to the Kansas City area, Fritz and his wife settled in Olathe, Kansas, where he served on the Finance Committee for St. James Court Homeowners Association.

Fritz enjoyed music and was a trained classical concert pianist. As a young man, he had the honor of performing for President Truman at the Truman Library. In later years, Fritz livened parties for family and friends by playing German songs on the piano and accordion. Fritz sang in the pontifical choir at the Catholic Cathedral in Kansas City and in the Männerchor at the Volksfest Association of Minnesota. He was a life-long member of the Germania Club of Kansas City and a member of the German-American Citizens Association since 1966. An excellent ballroom dancer, Fritz enjoyed cutting up the rug with his wife and children. Some of his favorite dances were the jitterbug, the waltz, the polka, and the twist.

Fritz had a life-long passion for trains and model railroads. He received his first model train at the age of four and collected the rest of his life. While living in the Twin Cities, Fritz attended town hall meetings to advocate for the light rail system. In later years, Fritz was overjoyed to see the Kansas City trolley, which had been dismantled in his youth, rebuilt downtown. A member of numerous train collector associations, Fritz served as a volunteer at the Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul. He also received two presidential awards for volunteering at the Union Station’s Model Train Gallery in Kansas City. 

Fritz and his wife visited family and friends all over the world, traveling throughout the United States and to Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. He loved showing pictures and telling stories about their adventures. A steadfast Chiefs and Royals fan, Fritz was happy to see his favorite teams play some of their best games toward the end of his years.

Fritz passed away peacefully on February 11, 2025, in the loving company of family. He is predeceased by his parents, Karl and Rita Gastreich, and by his brother-in-law William (Butch) DePamelare. Fritz is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Helga; his children Loren Whittaker (and her husband Tom), Karin Gastreich (and her partner Jon Cleaves), Peter Gastreich (and his wife Liza); his sister Karola DePamelare; his grandchildren Grant Whittaker (and his wife Katie), Gary Whittaker, Chloe Gastreich, and Claudia Gastreich; and by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss him dearly. The family is deeply grateful for the doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers who provided Fritz with such compassionate care during his final days at Colonial Village, Olathe Health, and Olathe Hospice.

A Mass celebrating Fritz’s life will be held at Prince of Peace Church in Olathe, KS, on Friday, February 28, at 10:30am. Visitation will be in the Church prior to Mass starting at 9:30am. A private interment ceremony will be held at a later date at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Union Station of Kansas City (unionstation.org) or to the Prince of Peace Building Fund (popolathe.org/gods-house). 

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