DON GILBERT FISHER ~ Class of 1950
August 21, 1931 - July 23, 2007





Don passed away peacefully July 23, 2007, from a brief battle with cancer. He was born August 21, 1931, in Ogden UT, the first child of Howard W. and Hazel Gilbert Fisher.

The Fisher family moved from Ogden to White Bluffs, WA, in February 1944, then relocated to Richland as a result of the Manhattan Project. As a child, Don attained the honor of Eagle Scout and later graduated from Columbia High School (Richland) in 1950.

He played football throughout high school years and was honored as the 1950 All-State Football tailback. He received a full football scholarship to WSU but suffered a knee injury and returned to Richland to work as an electrician on the Hanford Project. He proudly served his country from 1951 until 1954 with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict receiving an honorable discharge.

On November 10, 1954, he married Barbara Jean Smith of Coulee Dam, they went on to have four children, Sherri ('74), Mark ('76), Brenda ('78) and Donna ('80).

Don became a member of the IBEW 77 working for various government contractors and retiring from Siemens in December 1991. During the Hanford strike of 1968, Don and his brother won a government bid for the removal of the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs bath houses and cabins. He acquired two of the cabins which he placed on his property in High Valley Park, Packwood. The cabin brought many wonderful times for the family including elk hunting, stream fishing, burnt pancakes, and good ole campfires.

Don accepted Christ as his Savior in 1965, was baptized, and was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church for the remainder of his life.

Don's hobbies included hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren, sailing with his daughter, Sherri (Larry), in Puerto Rico, watching his grandchildren at various activities, gardening, and watching the weather channel.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Hazel Fisher, and infant brother, Robert.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Barbara Jean; children, Sherri (Larry) Burton, Mark (Melinda) Fisher, Brenda (Greg) Sponholtz and Donna Fisher.

Grandchildren include Heather (Calvin, friend) and Kyle Sponholtz, Erik and Mackenzie Fisher. brothers and sisters, Jack ('51) (Carol) Fisher, Sue (Lowell) Umland, Wayne ('54) (Jan) Fisher, Sharon ('56) Hinkle, Patti ('71) (Ronnie ('70) Campbell; sisters and brother-in-law, Janet Watson, and Pat and Jack Barnard, and many family members.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to the nursing staff at Kennewick General and Drs. Cole and Weeks.

Memorial service will be at 11am, Friday, July 27, at Redeemer Lutheran, 520 Thayer, Richland, with interment August 18, 11am at Evergreen Cemetery, Packwood, WA.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Redeemer Lutheran Youth Program, address above.

Published in the Tri-City Herald on 7/25/2007. Signt the Guest Book for Don