In July 2022, according to the Des Moines Register, Frank Fritz was found unresponsive at his home in Davenport, Iowa, and was quickly admitted to a local hospital, where doctors discovered that the “American Pickers” star had suffered a serious stroke. After being hospitalized for a month, Fritz was moved into a residential rehabilitation facility to begin his prolonged and arduous recovery from the debilitating neurological episode. According to The Sun, Fritz’s health care expenses were so substantial (around $23,000) a month) and the reality TV personality’s functions were so diminished by the stroke the court appointed a temporary guardian and financial conservator to oversee Fritz’s affairs.
At the time that his medical ordeal began, Fritz was still in the midst of a dispute with his “American Pickers” partner Mike Wolfe. In light of the situation, Wolfe put the squabbling aside. “There has been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to pray for my friend,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram. “Frank I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you buddy.”
In February 2023, with Fritz still recovering, Wolfe implied that he was reluctant to do “American Pickers” without his longtime co-star. “Nothing will ever replace Frank we miss him,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram (via Newsweek). “Very much like y’all do.”