David "Dave" Fisher

David (Dave) Paul Fisher, 75, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, surrounded by loving family and ready to meet his savior.
Dave was born on June 25, 1949, in Peoria, a son of Raymond "Ray" Fisher and Bertha "Bertie" Fisher. He married the love of his life, his brown-eyed girl, Georgianne Gyorkos, on April 12, 1969 in Peoria at St. John's Catholic Church. He was a maintenance mechanic at Caterpillar for 30 years and would have had 2 Bachelor degrees if it weren't for the one English class that he refused to take. A degree in Building Construction and the other in Mechanical Engineering. Dave was a man of faith and attended church regularly until he was no longer able.
Dave is survived by his wife, his son David (Jeni) Fisher, and his daughters Roni (Don) Majors and Meghan Lundeen. He lived for his grandchildren: Molly (John) Page, Abbey Fisher, David Fisher, Maddie Majors, Hannah Majors, Anabelle Lundeen, Raegan Lundeen, and great -grandchildren Abrielle and Camden. He is also survived by sister-in-law Linda Fisher, brother Glen (Dottie) Fisher, brother-in-law Ken Goewey, sisters Mary (Greg) Ryan, Peggy (Larry) Stark, Jane (Jerry) Hardin, brother John (Dodie) Fisher, and sister June (Paul) Rosenbohm. Dave was a foster father for several years to Thuy, Linh, and Huong Nguyen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Bertie Fisher, sister Susan (Wayne) Hagel, brother Raymond (George) Fisher, sister Nancy Goewey and just recently, niece Dawn Fisher. Dave had 47 nieces and nephews and 80 great nieces and nephews. With more than 180 family members on the Fisher side alone, he loved every one of them and made sure they knew so.
Dave lived his life the way we all ought to. He loved his wife more than anything and put her first, always. He cherished family time in the truest sense of the word. You couldn't impress him with anything money could buy. It was character that he valued. In his younger years, Dave was ornery. Actually, he kept that trait til his final moments. But he was always getting into something with his siblings. He tells stories of caves, creeks, his shoeless brother, falling off a train bridge, and the years he spent trying to keep all his sisters out of trouble. He walked from Laramie to Starr Street every day and then to Manual High School to escort his then girlfriend, Georgie on her walk to school. He never stopped going out of his way to love her. Dave was proud to serve in the Army Reserves for 6 years and while none of us knows the whole story, he does have a photo of him making his drill sergeant do push-ups.
Dave was a man that would give you the shirt off his back, make church every Sunday, cry in moments of pride for those he loved, and also get kicked out of a pee-wee hockey game while coaching. He was passionate about hockey and played hockey for over 30 years and coached for more than 17 years with each year being his "last year coaching", only to coach again the following year. He loved that he got a chance to share the ice with his son David, and eventually help coach his grandson David Paul III. Dave didn't miss "moments". In fact, he went out of his way to make sure every person he loved knew it. He attended countless games, performances, and experiences to support his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Everyone knew he was present when you heard his undeniable "chirp". It could be after a crucial play, the moment you crossed the stage for a diploma, walking out of the church from your wedding, or as you slide off the dance recital stage. It was an unspoken supplement for a pat on the back, hey you'll get em next time, or I'm here and I love you. But you knew he was there and in your corner. He also had a whistle that you could hear for miles. It was a call to come home from wherever you were in the neighborhood, a cattle call to round us all up for a photo, or a beacon home when you're lost in the Mall of America. When he wasn't building a house for a family member, going to a game, program, or recital he often got volunteered to build sets for stages, build library lofts for his grandchildren's then pre school, play Santa at a recital, or help a grandchild with math homework.
Dave and Georgianne spent the last couple of decades traveling south for the winters. Their Texas crew is a second family and has been an invaluable support system for Dave and Georgianne, especially the last couple years. His funny, ornery, card playing, golf club swinging personality will be missed by all.
A visitation to celebrate Dave's wonderful life will be held Thursday July 25, 2024 from 5-7 pm at St Anthony's Catholic Church, 2525 S Skyway Rd, Bartonville, IL 61067 and Friday, at 9 am, one hour before mass at 10am. After organ donations through the Gift of Hope, he was afforded cremation rites. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, or St Anthony's building maintenance fund.
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