Harry Fisher

Harry Thomas Fisher, Jr was born September 10, 1932, in Clive, Iowa. His parents were Harry and Julia Fisher. He had a brother, William, and sister, Josephine (Hoff) who preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Dorthea (Pender). Mary (Kircher), his wife of 63 years also preceded him in death earlier this year. Harry graduated from Dowling High School in 1951. Following high school, he served in the Navy. He was stationed in Norfolk, VA, and had a tour of duty in Europe. After the Navy, Harry attended Grand View College, studying Accounting. Although his pursuit of a career in Accounting ended when children came along, he never lost his love of numbers. He would quiz his children (and later his grandchildren) on their multiplication tables. They all learned quickly that 9 x 7 equals 63. Harry and Mary were married in 1958 at All Saints Catholic Church and had seven children, Cecilia Gomez (Victor), Therese Fleming (Joe), Harry Fisher, Karen Sullivan (Jeff), John Fisher (Andrea), Patty Devereux (Mike), and Joan Boxwell (Dale). Their legacy also includes 23 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren (with one on the way). He worked for John Deere in Ankeny for nearly 40 years as a security guard and first responder for fires. He was a devoted employee with a strong work ethic. His enthusiasm for his job earned him the nickname “Hurricane Harry”. He instilled this work ethic in his children, supporting their career development throughout their high school and college years. As a father, Harry expressed his love through actions more than words. Each winter, he would endure the cold to make an ice skating rink in the backyard for them. He always found time for family camping trips, cheering his children’s sports teams, and helping them with their early morning paper routes. His grandchildren remember him as a sports fan. He enjoyed watching Iowa and Iowa State football games with them. They also have many memories of playing in the treehouse that he built. But most of all, their grandpa taught them that the best way to end the day is with a big bowl of ice cream. One of his favorite hobbies was gardening. He would share the harvest with his community of friends and family. Chuck’s, a local restaurant, and the produce manager for Dahl’s always looked forward to Harry’s tomatoes and peppers. Harry enjoyed golfing and fishing, but his real passion was mushroom hunting. He would spend many hours in the spring, walking through forests, searching for morels. He passed this passion on to his eldest grandson. This past April, when Johnny showed him a picture of his mushrooms, Harry’s comment was “the only thing that would be better is if these were on my table”. Harry’s Catholic faith was clearly evident through his actions. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and an usher at Sunday Mass. As a member of St. Vincent de Paul, he served the poor in the community, delivering donations to families in need. Harry leaves a legacy of kindness and compassion. Harry passed away peacefully on July 23, 2022 at the age of 89. We would like to give special thanks to Suncrest Care (hospice) and Home Instead (home care). Their support and compassion helped Dad and our family through his final months. Memorial contributions may be directed to All Saints Catholic Church or to St. Vincent De Paul in loving memory of Harry.