Dr. Erwin L. Fitzgerald, age 91, of East Grand Rapids, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Dr. Fitzgerald was preceded in death by his wife, Lois and brother Wayne R. Fitzgerald. Dr. Fitzgerald graduated from Western Michigan University and received his doctor of medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School. He practiced family medicine for over 40 years. He was a kind, vivacious, and generous soul, who always found time for everyone and left those he met better off. Besides spending time with his family, Dr. Fitzgerald enjoyed golf at Cascade Hills Country Club, fishing, and the company of close friends. He will be dearly missed by those who he touched in life. He is survived by his four children, Mary Beth Fitzgerald, Dr. Kevin (Cindy) Fitzgerald, all of Grand Rapids; Ann (John Trumble) Fitzgerald of Chicago, IL; and Sean (Barbara) Fitzgerald of Grand Rapids; six grandchildren: Dr. James (Colleen) Fitzgerald of Grand Rapids, Laura Fitzgerald of Chicago, IL, Dr. Michael (Makenzie) Fitzgerald of Lexington, KY, John Fitzgerald, Conor Fitzgerald, and Caroline Fitzgerald, all of Grand Rapids. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, 10:30 a.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 750 Gladstone Dr. S.E., East Grand Rapids, with Rev. Scott Nolan and Rev. Msgr. Ernest P. Schneider co-celebrating. Visitation will be held Friday, 2-4:00 p.m. and 6-8:00 p.m., with the Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd. S.E., Grand Rapids. Memorial contributions may be made to Autism Society of America, 4340 East West Hwy, Ste. 350, Bethesda, MD 20814 or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 4595 Broadmoor Ave. S.E., Ste 230, Grand Rapids, MI 49512.
