Ralph Wendall Fisher

1935 - 2014

FISHER, REV. RALPH WENDALL; age 78; of Blanchard; passed away Friday, December 5, 2014; at The Laurels of Mt. Pleasant. Funeral Services for Ralph will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Alan Rydman and Pastor Jeremy Selvidge officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A Luncheon will be held at the Reflections Reception Center following the committal. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Visitation will continue the day of the service at the funeral chapel from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the family. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel. Ralph was born on December 23, 1935 in Harvey, IL, the son of John and Marie (Schicht) Fisher. Following high school, Ralph received his Bachelor’s of Theology at Olivet Nazarene University, Bachelor’s of Divinity in Kansas City, MO, and Masters of Counseling at Olivet Nazarene University. He married Marlene Forsen on January 18, 1958 in Detroit. Ralph started his long career as a minister at the Church of the Nazarene in Iatan, MO, in 1959, leaving in 1964 to move to Mancelona, MI. Ralph moved from Mancelonia in 1967 to Ludington, where he led his congregation until 1975. The church then brought him to Bismark, ND until 1980, at which point he moved back to Michigan for 15 years, preaching in Clare from 1981 to 1986, Lansing from 1986 to 1989, then Mt. Pleasant from 1989 to 1996. In 1996, Ralph moved back to Illinois just 48 miles away for his hometown of Harvey to Morris, IL, where he preached until 2000. Ralph and Marlene returned to the central Michigan area to retire. While not spiritually leading others, Ralph found peace gardening and reading. Ralph is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marlene; children, Tamara Lynn (Derwin) Mann of Bismarck, ND, Peter Armas (Laura) Fisher of Boston, MA, and MSgt (RET) Terry John (Jackie Aguiar) Fisher of England; seven grandchildren; and sister, Inez Metzger of Homer Glen, IL. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents. You may view Ralph’s obituary online and send a condolence to the family, light a memorial candle, or place a memorial donation at www.clarkfuneralchapel.com