Obituary of Robert L. Fisher

Robert L. Fisher, age 96 longtime resident of Iowa City, died Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Visitation will be held for family and friends from 11am to 2pm Friday, October 4, 2024, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City.  Private family graveside services will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in memory of Bob toward St .Croix Hospice.  

Robert Lee “Bob” Fisher was born March 29, 1928, in Washington, Iowa the son of Ernest and Myrtle (Jones) Fisher.  Following graduation from Iowa City High School he went to work for Rock Island Railroad and Miller Hardware as a carpenter.  On August 5, 1949, he was united in marriage to Velma Irene Smith, a marriage that spanned over 71 years before her death in 2021.

Bob joined the United States Navy in 1951 and served his country until 1955 when he was released from duty.  During this time while he and Velma lived in Maryland where he was stationed, their oldest daughter, Pamela was born.  Moving back to Iowa City 5 years later their youngest daughter, Ellen was born.  Back in Iowa City Bob began a career with the former Northwestern Bell that would span over 30 years until his retirement in 1986.  For a time in his retirement he worked for Sharon Center Telephone, as this man knew a thing or two about telephones! One story that many have heard from Bob is that he was instrumental in the first broadcast of an Iowa Hawkeye Football Game on TV through telephone cables from Kinnick Stadium, a first in that day.  You can’t take the telephone out of a telephone man, he continued his “job” by assisting Mercy Hospital with installing Lifelines phones for years.

Bob enjoyed much in his life, he liked attending Hawkeye football, mens and womens  basketball games both home and away. He was always up for a good game of cards, appreciated  supporting of the KAABA Shrine (especially getting to drive as one of the Camel Wheels),  the Masonic Lodge and the Royal Order of the Jesters in the Masons He was extremely proud being one of the very fortunate Veterans to participate in an Honor Flight in 2012 and most recently the Dream Flight this past July.  But nothing brought greater joy to Bob than his family. His smile was all you needed to see to know that love he had for all of them! Priceless!!!

His family includes daughters, Pam Calkins (Larry Barnes)  and Ellen Jenn (Ron);  grandchildren, Amanda Bender, Aubray Coorough (Derek), and Brent Jenn (Kendra); great-grandchildren, Bentley. Jaxson, Cruz, Cosette, Ethan and Etta; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Myrtle and Ernest Fisher; his sister, Beverely King; -n-laws, Mary and Lee Farnsworth, Lily Mae and Pat Parrish, Maxine and Eddie Meyers, Betty and Dave Brenneman, Luella Jean and Carl Holmes, Florine Roegler, Clifford “Sonny” Mary Smith  and Marjana and Pat Lamp.

Bob’s family would like to express their gratitude to Sterlingshire Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice for their most compassionate care and sincere love for our father, grandfather and great grandfather.  You loved him as your own!