John Francis Fischbach

Former Vancouver City Manager, John Francis Fischbach, passed away on July 23, 2025, at the age of 80. During his tenure as Vancouver City Manager (1990-1995), John pursued his vision of a new community-oriented waterfront and a revitalized downtown. This forward thinking helped to create the renewed city we see today.

John was born on May 10, 1945 in Evanston, Illinois to Bessie and Pete Fischbach. He attended Pacific Lutheran University and obtained his master's degree in City Management at the University of Kansas. He was a City Manager in Boulder, CO; Robbinsdale, MN; Lake Forest, IL; Fort Collins, CO; Vancouver, WA; and Goodyear, AZ. John was also a County Administrator in Port Townsend, WA.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Fischbach; his daughter, Kristina Fischbach; his sister and brother-in-law, Chris and Mike Logue; along with many nieces and nephews. He is remembered fondly by many extended family members, friends, and former colleagues. John was preceded in death by his son, Jack (John Jr.) Fischbach, his brothers, Pete Fischbach, Jr. and George Fischbach.

John loved gatherings with family and friends for meals, games and discussions. He enjoyed competing in a variety of card and board games and was good natured when he lost.

John was an amazing man whose warmth, wisdom, and generosity touched the lives of all who knew him. He was known for his unwavering kindness, quiet strength, and a sense of humor. Whether through his work, his community involvement, or simply the way he lived his life, John made a positive, lasting impact on everyone he encountered.

A celebration of life will be held on October 4th at 1:30 pm at the Uniquely You Event Center (903 Washington Street, Vancouver, WA), where all who knew and loved John are welcome to gather, share memories, and celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association.