Section: 325 Lot: 157 Grave: 3
Richard Robert Fischer
Born: February 14th, 1930
Died: October 14th, 2019
Obituary
Richard Robert "Dick" Fischer, 89, of Burlington, died Monday, October 14, 2019, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.
Born February 14, 1930, in Fairfield, IA, he was the son of Robert Farrell and Mildred Louise Hiatt Fischer. On January 30, 1993, he married Elaine Mary McKenzie Gates in Burlington, Iowa.
He was a 1948 graduate of Fairfield High School. Upon graduation he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in Company I, 35th Infantry Regiment where he was awarded the Purple Heart.
Upon his return to Iowa, Dick explored various careers including that of a delivery driver for Curtis Candies which resulted in the development of an insatiable sweet tooth. While he loved the Curtis Candies product, encouragement from a law enforcement acquaintance led him to apply to the newly opened Burlington Airport. To Dick's great surprise, he was immediately hired and began a long and distinguished airline career with Ozark Airlines, later to become TWA. Many of his friendships began with people who passed through his airport.
Dick was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he had served on various committees and as a trustee. He was also a member of the West Burlington Lions Club. In his younger years, he coached baseball. Dick enjoyed reading, watching Iowa sports, coin collecting and traveling. He also like to attend the Old Thresher's Reunion every year.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine Mary Fischer of Burlington; son, Michael (Evelyn) Fischer of Huntsville, AL; two step-sons, Stephen Jon Gates and Michael Francis (Mary) Gates both of Burlington; two step-daughters, Theresa Rae (Eric) McCrory of Wildwood, MO, and Sandra Sue (Damon) Wick of Omaha, NE; eight grandchildren, Jacob, Jon, Joe, and Judy Gates, Alec McCrory, Lauren and Logan Wick, and Joshua Fischer; two great-grandchildren: Aiden Fischer and Samuel Gates; one brother, Ronald (Sue) Fischer of Fairfield, IA; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his first wife, Ally Faye Fischer, he was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Virginia Schupick.