Floyd Melvin "Fritz" Ihde

1922 - 2022

Floyd "Fritz" Melvin Ihde
September 10, 1922 - July 12, 2022
Fresno, California - It is so hard to say goodbye to our handsome Blue Eyed Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa. You now join your sweetheart, Lois, after 77 years of marriage. You were the most loving, caring, welcoming person who embodied all things with righteousness, honesty, giving and compassion. You taught us how to navigate life with your endless and unconditional love, wisdom, and strength. You, Grandma, and Georgie were cut from the same cloth. You never missed one part of our lives, no matter when or where. Your home was a place of refuge for so many. Family was everything to you and you were everything to us. The majority of our happiest memories are on the land, living next to you since 1993 and fishing while camping at "Shafer Lake." You loved sitting outside with nature in your white t-shirt and blue jeans. We swore you were an animal whisperer without the whisper.
Your home, though small in size, always burst with love, support and comfort. We would not have traded it for the world. Money and hard work knew no limit when it came to generously helping family and friends. You were an honorable man that deserves honor. You told so many stories, sang so many silly songs, loved music and whistled. You were our compass; our rock. You farmed until age 94. You worked at Fresno State for over 20 years, while farming. You carried a jelly jar of water in your pickup and on the tractor so you could take a "swig" of it. Your strong arms and hands held us tightly on the tractor. We were your shadows. You truly were the man we thought would never die. There was nothing you couldn't or wouldn't do.
You were in the United States Army Air Forces during WWII from March 19, 1943 and Honorably Discharged from Active Duty on November 21, 1945. You rarely talked of your achievements or heroism. Your bravery says it all when the crew on that B-29 held onto you upside down, to close the Bombay Doors. You did earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. You were our unsung hero. In 2014, you attended the Honor Flight to Washington DC for your dedication to our country. You didn't like or need the recognition. When you were thanked for your service you would just say "Yeah" and shake your head. You told us so many times, you didn't think, "You just did it."
You were always so positive and lived your life having a witty remark for everything. You would always say, "Glad you got to see me" when we visited. We already miss your tight hugs, squeezing us, saying, "Oooooh I Looooove You." Your favorite people were babies (termites or orphans) because they were "my kind of people."
Everything has changed and is changing. We all were intensely close to you for which we will never apologize for. You enhanced our lives in the most beautiful way. Knowing the legacy of you, your home, and land of 70 years is gone is heart wrenching. There is great sadness and loss that we are trying to replace with countless beautiful memories. How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. You said for many years you lived a good life with "No Regrets" and "Good Times." We could not have dreamt of a better Dad and Grandpa. You were selfless. We are trying to be strong like you, but are shielding our hearts from completely shattering. Thank you for being a soft place to land and a pillar of our lives.
With everlasting love your Devoted Daughter Susan, your Son-in-Law Tim, your Granddaughters who you treated as daughters; Jennifer, Stephanie, Keri and husband Colin, Brittany and husband Joe; your Great Grandchildren who again were loved in the same manner by you; Logan, Gavin, McKenna, Emery, Nickolas, Autumn, Rory, and Baby Georgie. We will all hold you inside of our heart as we know without a doubt we are in yours. We are so glad that we got to see you.