James Frederick Fisher

1934 - 2024

James Frederick Fisher

On January 16, 2024, eight bells rang out ending the watch for James F. "Jim" Fisher, 89, of Sylvania, Ohio. Jim, a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, raconteur and sailor was born in Temperance, Michigan, to Frank and Vivian (Jacobs) Fisher in 1934. He attended DeVilbiss High School and served his country in the U.S. Navy. After being honorably discharged he joined the family business and continued to earn his living in the plumbing and related industries eventually specializing in pneumatic control installation and service until his retirement in 1994.

From his earliest years he was insatiably curious about every topic from politics to entertainment to space exploration. A voracious reader, Jim knew a little bit about everything and a lot about a lot of things. Daily sights or events would trigger a question which would be answered by his trusty and ever present I-Pad. Jim would gladly discuss any subject or tell a story from his endless repertoire. Remarkably sharp as a tack to the very end, the details never changed. A story that occurred forty years ago and was told twenty years ago was retold identically a month ago.

However, if there is one main characteristic that describes Jim's life, it would be perpetual motion. Winter weekends found him and his family snowmobiling in Mancelona, Michigan, or skiing at Boyne Mountain with a ski trip to Switzerland thrown in for good measure. Summer times found him and the family on his beloved Lake Erie sailing his custom Dutch Contest 31, the Dam Van Mere. The boat was the family's summer home, North Cape Yacht Club of which Jim was a longtime member and past Commodore, was the back yard and any body of water was the neighborhood. Jim's boating adventures included numerous Mills Trophy and Chicago to Mackinaw Races, ports of call on all the Great Lakes and several boat trips to Florida, East through the Hudson River and Intracoastal Waterway and West through the Chicago and Mississippi Rivers into the Gulf of Mexico.

Retirement in Florida did not mean slowing down but rather gave Jim more time to pursue his many additional interests and activities. Tennis provided the workout; boating provided the ocean's beauty and serenity and the lounge at Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racket Club provided the fellowship and evening libations. If there was any downtime available, it was then filled with Jim's puttering and awesome mechanical ability. If he could not make it, it was not worth having. If he could not fix it with his ingenuity and duct tape, pitch it as a hopeless cause. No matter the activity, Jim could walk into a crowded room and when he left, they all were friends and with those many friends there was rarely a limit to the mischief and laughter. A highlight for Jim as a lifelong Michigan fan was the recent National Championship. Go Blue!!

Jim moved back to this area several years ago to be with and enjoy his family and friends. The grandkids and lately, great grandkids, were a source of great joy as he taught them about his many life experiences but also learned from them the new ways of the world of their generation.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, Joe, and John. He is survived by his son, Steven (Lenka) Fisher; daughters, Tracy Sallah (Tom Schlachter) and Julie Fisher (Michael Brady); sisters, Margaret (James) Sander and Laura (Ed) Dickendasher; grandchildren, Anthony (Stephanie L.) Sallah, Stephanie Sallah (Alex Najem), Sean Riley (Angie Pelland), Jacob Riley (Mackenzie Guitteau) and Ryan Riley, Levia and Kiara Fisher; greatgrandchildren, Grant Riley, Charlie, Max and Josie Sallah and Mara Najem.

The family would like to especially thank a shining light in Jim's life, his caregiver Jennifer Yglesias who gave him loving care but also friendship, companionship, and counsel these past several months.

Family and friends may visit Monday, January 22, from 2-7 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave. There will be an "Open Mic" sharing of memories from 5:30- 6:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Jim to the Junior Sailing Program at North Cape Yacht Club, 11850 Toledo Beach Rd., Lasalle Township, Michigan 48145.

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