Ted Fitzgerald

Ted Fitzgerald, 72, of Battle Creek passed away peacefully with his family at side on Tuesday morning, December 30, 2025.

Our beloved redheaded Irishman, Ted Fitzgerald, was born in Hastings, Michigan on June 22, 1953, the youngest child of U.G. Fitzgerald and Betty Jane (Dunning) Fitzgerald. When Ted was 11 his father died leaving his mother and three siblings to face a difficult future. At this early age and ever after even with adversity, devotion to family was the priority in Ted’s life. A graduate of Hastings (Class A) High School, Ted was an exceptional athlete. He excelled in track, (receiving 4 varsity letters), in football, (receiving two varsity letters), and in basketball, (also receiving two varsity letters). He was voted Most Valuable Player in both varsity football and basketball. He was captain of the football team for three years, earned All-Conference Honors in both football and basketball and was named Hastings Athlete of the Year as a senior in 1972.

After graduation Ted worked at Hastings Aluminum and soon realized he wanted something more. Working numerous side jobs, (trimming trees, roofing, working in construction, Y.M.C.A counselor), Ted was able to go back to school, and pay his own way through college. He first attended Kellogg Community College and later transferred to Central Michigan University. After years of hard work, Ted graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a minor in Health and became the first college graduate in his family.

Ted married his high school sweetheart, Christine E. (Bessmer) Fitzgerald, on May 29th, 1976, after receiving instructions to become Catholic from Msgr. William Fitzgerald, who became a major influence in Ted’s Catholic life. Ted would proudly tell you Chris saved his life. This would have been their 50th wedding anniversary this spring. Four years later Ted and Chris would welcome their first child, Kelly (Fitzgerald) Francisco, and two years later their second daughter, Casey Fitzgerald-Boyer. Still going to school, Ted took the opportunity to become a stay-at-home dad, taking a more active role in raising his daughters. His proudest achievement was being a dad and he was nothing less than remarkable.

When the girls were little, Ted taught Health and Physical Education to elementary, middle school, and high school students at Battle Creek Catholics Schools. He taught for 25 years. For 17 of those years he coached Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity basketball, while developing the basketball program. During his tenure he went on to lead the STP Varsity Basketball Team to victory in the 2002 Regional Finals. This was his greatest accomplishment. After his retirement in 2014 he was nominated and inducted into the St. Philip Hall of Fame. Ted formed lasting friendships with his former students and players that exist to this day.

The consummate father and sports enthusiasts, many Fitzgerald family weekends were spent at sporting events. Ted coached his girls soccer teams rewarding them with slushies when they scored. He never missed one of their games even when he wasn’t coaching. On Sundays he would fire up the grill and cook hot dogs, enough to feed an army. Oh, how he loved hot dogs. His prowess, as ‘Hot dog King’ and an Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile Driver’ have given the family (Gwen and Larry), lots of laughable moments over the years. Ted was one helluva cook. Let’s not forget his famous chili, shrimp salad and potato salad. Ted taught his girls how to ride a bike, drive a stick shift, change a tire, mow the yard, and be self-sufficient and independent.

In the summer Ted took the family to a cherry orchard, hauling huge ladders through the trees to find the trees with the biggest and best cherries. Every July Ted staked flags along the length of the sidewalk to honor our soldiers. He loved the American flag and what is symbolized. A beautiful lesson he engrained in his grandchildren. He loved history and kept abreast of current events. Ted loved the water and time spent with family at Barlow Lake and teaching ‘rules of the water,’ which evolved into a beloved inside joke with his girls. He loved fishing off the dock, floating, and tubing…it was all fun. Nothing made him happier in the Fall than watching football and rooting for the only “true,” blue and gold Notre Dame. He loved ushering in the stadium on game day and visiting Touchdown Jesus, The Grotto, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and the golden dome. When December drew near Ted was the first to start hanging Christmas lights.

Ted’s character was rooted in “INTEGRITY.” He lived the words, “Do what you say, and say what you do.” Over decades of dealing with a multitude of serious health issues he remained brave, strong and kind. He did not show favoritism. From the least to the greatest Ted was generous, fair and respectful to all. His love for family knew no bounds. He loved them and they loved him right back. He was his wife’s biggest fan, and his two daughters (Kelly and Casey) and sons-in-law (Jason and Kevin) were his. Ted’s “vitamins” (his grandchildren), Matty, Caleb, Collins, Jeremy (JB), and Kyle (Ky), meant the world to him. They filled his heart and brightened his every moment. He loved being a Papa. Larry, his “Big sis,” Gwen, and twin brothers Mike and Pat, have been a constant in Ted’s life, embracing him with their support and unconditional love.

Ted was a faith-filled husband, father, brother, and friend. He loved God and all that God created. All who knew him and all who loved him are left better because of him. As this chapter of Ted’s life gently comes to a close, our family would like you to know how extraordinary he was to all of us. His love for his family was unwavering. He marveled at the simplicities of life, found healing in nature, and believed heaven was walking among the trees at my grandma’s farm. He believed life can be messy, and without each other we are nothing. Though we are biased because he was ours, we simply believe he was the best. Let his legacy of humility, love, compassion, and courage live on. No one will ever take his place. For all of that and more, we will miss him, every…single…day.

The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday January 8, 2026, at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care, Battle Creek where the Parish Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. The family will also receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Friday, January 9, 2026, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 61 N. 23rd Street, Battle Creek where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 noon. Please omit flowers and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ted Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools (BCACS) Foundation.

Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.