Kimberly Kay Fisher

1959 - 2024

Kimberly Kay (Mann) Fisher passed away peacefully at her home in Fairbanks on July 11, 2024, surrounded by family and friends.

Kim was born Jan. 16, 1959, in Fairbanks, at St. Joseph's Hospital, to Wayne and Roberta Mann. Kim was the oldest of three strong-willed girls. Her parents had moved to Alaska from Minnesota in the 1950s in search of work and adventure. They loved Fairbanks and decided to make it their home and raise a family. Kim spent her youth playing with her sisters, Kelly and Kari, known fondly as the Mann Girls, and lifelong friends, Sue and Jan. She held dear her memories of spending time with Sue's family out near Chena Hot Springs, and her time spent with Jan's family out at Birch Lake.

Kim attended Denali Elementary, Main Middle School, Ryan Jr. High, and graduated from Lathrop High School in 1977. During her school years she met Julene, another lifelong friend and partner in shenanigans and hijinks. Kim began working at a young age and earned a reputation for being professional, independent, hard working and dependable. More importantly, she was admired as kind and someone who was always willing to lend a helping hand to others.

In 1982 Kim met and fell in love with Mike Fisher. They married in Fairbanks on a beautiful fall day in September 1984, with many friends and family in attendance. Kim soon began her more than 30-year career administratively supporting the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Engineering. During her time in academia, Kim enjoyed working with staff and faculty, but especially enjoyed working with students and helping them whenever and however possible. Kim retired from UAF in 2018.

Mike and Kim enjoyed many trips to the Fisher family cabin in Anchor Point where Kim learned to fish. She especially liked fishing for the spunky silvers. The drive to the cabin from Fairbanks was long, but nothing was more beautiful and peaceful than sitting at the cabin on the bluff overlooking Starisky Creek and Cook Inlet, with Mount Illiama and Mount Redoubt shimmering in the distance.

They welcomed daughter Micaela, their beautiful bundle of joy, in December 1993. She enriched their lives and created so many memories. Their lives revolved around building their home off Farmers Loop and Micaela and her school activities, including shuttling her and her friends around town, providing snacks and goodies for sleepovers, and annual road trips to Anchorage for school shopping and visiting family. They especially enjoyed their many family trips to Puerto Vallarta to escape winter's grip. But most of all Kim loved just being Micaela's Mom. Through Micaela and her nieces, Kim got to know many of the Monroe kids and was fondly known as Aunt Mem, a nickname bestowed on her by her younger sister, Kari.

Kim was an organizer and planner. She enjoyed hosting family dinners at their home on the hill, tending her flower garden, waiting patiently for her peonies to bloom, and keeping the inside of their home neat and clean. She was an accomplished quilter, a member of both the Forget-Me-Not Garden Club and the Pioneers of Alaska, and a Nanook hockey fan. While she never had grandchildren she enjoyed and spread her love to many little ones. It would be hard to find a youngster in Kim's large circle of love that does not have at least one of her quilts. She touched so many lives and will be missed dearly by family, friends and her feline companions, JoJo, Charlie and Rory.

Kim was proceeded in death by her parents, Wayne and Roberta Mann. She is survived by her husband, Mike; daughter, Micaela; sisters, Kelly Hughes (Craig) and Kari Mann (Rob); a number of sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Those wishing to remember her are welcome to donate to Foundation Health Partners Hospice Services of Fairbanks, 2001 Gillam Way, Fairbanks AK 99701 or ALS Association Evergreen Chapter, 19717 62nd Ave S., D-101, Kent, WA 98032. A time of remembering, stories, and honoring Kim will be held from 2:3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at Raven Landing Center, 1222 Cowles St., Fairbanks, AK 99701.