DARK TIME American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe looks downcast outside Iowa guest house in first photos since costar Frank Fritz’s death

AMERICAN Pickers star Mike Wolfe has been spotted looking downcast in first photos since the passing of his co-star and longtime friend Frank Fritz.

Frank passed away on Monday, September 30 at the age of 60.

These are the first photos of Mike Wolfe since the passing of his beloved friend Frank FritZ

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz on American Pickers

The passing came two years after Frank suffered a debilitating stroke in July 2022 that left him wheelchair-bound and under guardianship.

Mike, 60, rushed from Tennessee to Iowa to be by his friend’s side before he passed in hospice surrounded by loved ones.

In exclusive photos obtained by The U.S. Sun, Mike could be seen for the first time since Frank’s passing in his hometown of Le Claire, Iowa on Wednesday, October 2.

Mike kept busy most of the day by finishing up renovations on his Iowa vacation rental, Two Lanes Guesthouse.

Mike’s sister, Beth, could be seen helping her brother as he walked in and out of the house to grab tools and antiques from his car.

Throughout the day, Mike was in a more somber mood than usual, as he kept his head down and rarely cracked a smile while working.

He wore a blue button-down shirt, jeans and a hat.

Later in the day, he changed into a t-shirt as he continued to work on the home.

The home is a two-story duplex with an apartment on the second floor, as a business occupies the first story.

The building features two garages, back patio with a wood deck and views of the Mississippi River with Illinois seen in the distance.

As for the vacation rental, Mike purchased the 2,142-square foot building for $300,000 in December 2021.

The two-story house was built in 1880, and features three bedrooms, a basement, a fireplace and more amenities.

The U.S. Sun previously revealed the renovations Mike made to the home, including painting the previous off-white building a dark green with black trimming.

There is a wooden porch in the backyard with a modern black steel railing, a newly-installed stone fire pit and views of the Mississippi river.

Mike has been updating fans on the renovation process over Instagram.

Mike also owns a vacation rental located in a historic Columbia, Tennessee building that was built in 1857.

Mike Wolfe looked solemn as he spoke to a friend outside his guest house in Iowa on Thursday, October 3

The reality star hugged his friend outside the LeClaire property

Mike Wolfe began moving furniture outside and directing his staff to make changes

MOVING ON

On Thursday, Mike returned to his guest house.

He looked somber as he spoke to friends and staff members, and eventually began moving furniture.

The longtime reality star dressed in distressed denim, a black tee-shirt and brown boots.

He gave a friend a big hug as he worked on his property.

SAD PASSING

Mike announced Frank’s passing on Tuesday morning with an Instagram post that read, “It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night.

“I’ve known Frank for more than half my life and what you’ve seen on TV has always been what I have seen, a dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny.

“The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.

“Who would have ever dreamed we would share the cockpit of a white cargo van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures?

“Before the show we would take off together to places we never knew existed with no destination in mind and just the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic.”