John A. Fischer

1923 - 2011

John Fischer

John A. Fischer, 88, of Columbia, Ill., born Feb. 22, 1923, in rural Stookey Township, died on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at Canterbury Manor Nursing Home in Waterloo, Ill.

John enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943. He was a disabled World War II veteran having been in the D-Day invasion and later in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Victory Medal for the European/African/Middle Eastern Theater of War Ribbon with four Bronze Stars, three Overseas Service Bars, Good Conduct Medal, a Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Bronze Star. He left the Army with the rank of Sergeant. After the war, he was employed for 37 years as a teamster for Casper Stolle's Quarry in Dupo, Ill. He was the last remaining World War II Charter Life Member of the Dupo VFW Post No. 6368.

John was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Millstadt, Ill. He will sadly be missed by numerous family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Gladys M., nee Sutter, Fischer, whom he married June 9, 1943; his parents, John E. Fischer and Margaret, nee Papke, Fischer; a brother, Walter E. Fischer; brothers-in-law, Earl "Sonny" Schuchert and Clarence Sutter; sister-in-law, Aileen, nee Sutter, Gravot.

Surviving are his son, Gerald W. (Patricia) Fischer of Collinsville, Ill.; a daughter, Karen (Gerald) Rains of Belleville, Ill.; four grandchildren, Leigh Ann (Troy) Stuckemeyer, Eric (Lea) Rains, Kelly (Kevin) Stirnaman, and Cara Fischer; seven great-grandchildren, Brooke and Tyler Stuckemeyer, Alyssa, Faith, and Dana Rains, Henry and Oliver Stirnaman; sisters, Elvira Schuchert, Helen (Ralph) Mueller of Columbia, Ill.; sister-in-law, Georgine Sutter; brother-in-law, Joe Gravot of Millstadt, Ill.; and other relatives and friends.

The family wants to thank the staff at The Garden Place and The Bridges of Columbia, Ill., as well as the Hospice of Southern Illinois. Thanks also goes to Rev. Michael Kumm of Trinity Lutheran Church for his prayerful support.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Millstadt, Ill., or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

www.straussfuneralhome.com



Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt, Ill., and from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Ill.



Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Ill., with the Rev. Michael Kumm, officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville, Ill.



STRAUSS-LEESMAN FUNERAL HOME, Millstadt, Ill.