Kurtis Froedtert
Kurtis Froedtert | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 1951 (aged 64) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Leadership of Froedtert Malting Company; founding Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital |
Kurtis Froedtert (June 3, 1887 – December 6, 1951) was a prominent American entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Milwaukee.
Early life and education
Born on June 3, 1887, near the intersection of 6th and Vliet Street in Milwaukee, Froedtert attended the German-English Academy. He completed his studies at the Michigan Military Academy, graduating as valedictorian in 1904.
Leadership of the malting business
Although initially intending to pursue medical studies with a scholarship to the University of Chicago, Froedtert remained in Milwaukee due to his father's declining health. Following his father's death in 1915, he assumed control of the family enterprise, the Froedtert Malting Company (which later became Froedtert Grain and Malting). Under his leadership until his death, the company specialized in converting germinated barley into malt predominantly for the brewing sector, eventually becoming the largest malting operation worldwide.
Additional ventures
During the 1920s, Froedtert engaged in breeding award-winning milch goats. By 1936, he ventured into real estate by purchasing the Sunny Isles development located on Miami Beach. Post-World War II, he was instrumental in developing multiple shopping centers in Milwaukee, including Southgate, Northgate, and Westgate—later known as Mayfair Mall.
Personal life
In 1927, Froedtert married Mary Helf; together they had two daughters named Mazie and Suzanne. Mary passed away in 1990 at age 91. In 1946, Suzanne’s disappearance from a Catholic boarding school attracted nationwide media coverage; she was eventually discovered living with a truck driver in Detroit and subsequently eloped with a shoe store employee.
Death and legacy
Froedtert died on December 6, 1951, due to complications from stomach cancer. His will created a trust that allocated $11 million to establish what became known as Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital. Sixty percent of his estate—including $2 million worth of Miami Beach real estate—was dedicated to this trust, while the remaining forty percent was bequeathed to his widow and daughter Mazie.