John Fisher

John Wakeland Fisher, 89

John Wakeland Fisher, 89, Logansport, passed away peacefully in his sleep at 11:35 p.m. Saturday, December 15, 2012, in Woodbridge Health Campus.

Born August 14, 1923, in Lake Cicott, he was the son of the late Fred J. and Margaret J. Wakeland Fisher. He grew up on the family farm in the Brookston area and later moved to White County. A 1942 graduate of Burnettsville High School, John played on the Burnettsville Bees basketball team. John graduated from the Indiana Institute of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis in 1944.

On April 20, 1945, in Royal Center, Indiana, he was married to Mary Elizabeth Kesling, who survives.

In 1950, John and Mary founded Fisher Funeral Chapel in a stately home on the corner of Front & W. Market in Logansport. His compassion and down-to-earth personality endeared him to many and his business grew as a result. He owned and operated a fleet of modern ambulances until 1976, when the county hospital began their own ambulance service.

In 1980, John's late son, J.D., joined the family business as a funeral director/embalmer. In 1990, John and Mary retired and sold the family business to their son and daughter-in-law, Dawn. In 1995, they built a new chapel 1801 Chase Road in Logansport where John's visitation and funeral will be held. He was proud to see the "Fisher" name on the former Landis-Loy building in downtown Lafayette, when J.D. and Dawn purchased the building in 2003. The Lafayette chapel is managed by his grandson, Jonathan Fisher.

John lived to see his dream grow into a legacy as grandsons, Jonathan and Jacob became licensed funeral directors and most recently when Dawn completed her mortuary degree. When John's daughter, Patricia, retired from Twin Lakes High School after 37 years of teaching, she studied to become a certified funeral celebrant who officiated at funerals. Seeing his son and daughter working together on funerals meant so much to him.

John was a member of Wheatland Avenue United Methodist Church . John was very involved in several Masonic organizations: Logansport's Tipton Lodge No. 33; the Order of Eastern Star; the Logansport York Rite; the Indianapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite; the Murat Shrine of Indianapolis and the Logansport Shrine Club. He was a past president of the Logansport Lions Club and belonged to the Elks, the Eagles and the Fraternal Order of Police. Professionally, he was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Indiana Funeral Directors Association. He received his 65-year IFDA service pin in 2009

Surviving with his wife of 67 years are one daughter, Patricia Ann "Peggy" Fisher of Monticello; daughter-in-Law, Dawn Fisher of Logansport; six grandchildren, Nicole Stark of Chicago, IL, Jarrett (wife:Melissa) Stark of Fairfax, VA, Jonathan (wife:Nikki) Fisher of Lafayette, Jacob Fisher, Sarah Fisher and Chase Fisher, all of Logansport; two great-grandchildren, Kiera Stark and Caiden Stark, and a third great-grandchild to be born Dec. 28th, Gracelynn Monroe Fisher. Also surviving are brothers-in-law, Dick (wife:Doris) Kesling, Irvin (wife:Bea) Kesling, Estell (wife:Mary) Kesling, Norman (wife: Mary Lou) Kesling, and Willis Kesling; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He developed a close bond with his employees, who were like family to him, especially longest-tenured staff members, Marvin Griest. Clark Myer and Charles Schroder. John never forgot his roots and he considered the people of the Burnettsville/Lake Cicott area as "kin."

He was preceded in death by one son, John David "J.D." Fisher; one grandson, Daniel Emerson Fisher; one brother and sister-in-law, Forrest & Bea Fisher, who had operated a funeral home in Fortville; and one brother-in-law, Bobby Kesling.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 19, 2012, in Fisher Funeral Chapel, Logansport; Pastors Carolyn DeWitt and Ken Smith officiating.

Interment and committal services, officiated by Pastor Paul Scott, will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18th in funeral chapel where a Masonic service, officiated by his grandsons, will be held at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Shrine processional and concluding with an Eastern Star service.

Expressions of sympathy may be best made with a memorial contribution to the Wheatland Avenue United Methodist Church, the Tipton Masonic Lodge Building Fund, The Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Burnettsville Beehive Community Center or in the sprit of the season -a donation to the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel.

You may light a candle of hope in memory of John, share condolences in his online guestbook and view his video tribute at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com.