Scottish Rite Express

Scottish Rite Express   Valley of Des Moines ---------------------------------- Orient of Iowa August 19, 2015 Announcing the passing of          Brother Earl J Fries, 32°

Earl was born June 7, 1917, to Jens and Anna Petersen Fries in Elk Horn, Iowa. He graduated from Elk Horn Public High School in 1934. Earl attended Dana College for two years. He graduated from Drake University in 1939, with a degree in Commercial Science, majoring in Accounting and Corporation Finance. Earl was a member of Drake's President's Circle for 10 years and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Upon graduation from Drake, he worked for five years for American Surety Company of New York as manager of its accounting department. During World War II, Earl took basic training with the U.S. Army at Camp Roberts, California. He was then assigned to Regimental Headquarters and promoted to sergeant. He graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Lee, Virginia.  As first lieutenant, Earl shipped to the Pacific Theatre with the company he and three other officers had trained. Shortly after arriving overseas, he was ordered to set up a large supply operation to support troops fighting in the northern part of the Philippines. Following the war, Earl rejoined American Surety Company and five years later was named manager of the office. At that time, he was president of the Surety Association of Des Moines and was a board member of State Surety Co.   He married Maurine Couch in 1947. They built their first home in Des Moines and had many enjoyable years together. Maurine and Earl had one daughter, Marcia. After the purchase of American Surety by Transamerica, Earl transferred to Chicago as regional sales manager, covering 10 states. He left American Surety after 25 years and joined Northwestern National Insurance Company of Milwaukee to set up a new regional office in Des Moines. Earl was elected vice president of the company after three years. During his 20 years with Northwestern National, Earl and his 50 employees built the company's largest regional office by volume. Earl served on the board of directors of Dana College for 10 years, after which he was elected director emeritus in 1996. He joined St. John's Lutheran Church in Des Moines in 1939, and was an active member for many years. Earl served on the church's board for over a decade and was a member of its executive committee for three years. He was a long-time director on St. John's' Foundation Board, and ushered for many years. After the purchase of American Surety by Transamerica, Earl transferred to Chicago as regional sales manager, covering 10 states. He left American Surety after 25 years and joined Northwestern National Insurance Company of Milwaukee to set up a new regional office in Des Moines. Earl was elected vice president of the company after three years. During his 20 years with Northwestern National, Earl and his 50 employees built the company's largest regional office by volume. Earl served on the board of directors of Dana College for 10 years, after which he was elected director emeritus in 1996. He joined St. John's Lutheran Church in Des Moines in 1939, and was an active member for many years. Earl served on the church's board for over a decade and was a member of its executive committee for three years. He was a long-time director on St. John's' Foundation Board, and ushered for many years. After the purchase of American Surety by Transamerica, Earl transferred to Chicago as regional sales manager, covering 10 states. He left American Surety after 25 years and joined Northwestern National Insurance Company of Milwaukee to set up a new regional office in Des Moines. Earl was elected vice president of the company after three years. During his 20 years with Northwestern National, Earl and his 50 employees built the company's largest regional office by volume. Earl served on the board of directors of Dana College for 10 years, after which he was elected director emeritus in 1996. He joined St. John's Lutheran Church in Des Moines in 1939, and was an active member for many years. Earl served on the church's board for over a decade and was a member of its executive committee for three years. He was a long-time director on St. John's' Foundation Board, and ushered for many years. Earl became a Master of the Royal Secret in April 1958 and was a 50 year member of the Scottish Rite. Maurine Fries died in 1979. In 1991, Earl married LaVena Wilson Rucker, who had lost her husband seven years earlier. Earl and LaVena were married many happy years. They purchased a home in Meredith Park, and lived there for 14 years prior to moving to Scottish Rite Park. Earl credits LaVena with making retirement enjoyable for him.  The funeral will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, 600 Sixth Avenue, Des Moines, at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 20, preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery