Service Information
Ray Garnet Fischer, age 91, of Hutchinson formerly of Buffalo Lake passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2019, at his home in Hutchinson.
Memorial Service will be Thursday, October 17, 2019, 11:00 A.M. at Zion United Methodist Church in Buffalo Lake with interment in Zion Evangelical Cemetery, Preston Lake Township, Renville County, Minnesota.
Gathering of Family and Friends will be Wednesday, October 16, 2019, from 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Zion United Methodist Church in Buffalo Lake and will continue one hour prior to the service on Thursday.
Memorials preferred to Zion United Methodist Church Camp Koronis Scholarship Fund and the Zion Evangelical Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 248 Buffalo Lake, Minnesota 55314.
Obituary
Ray Garnet Fischer was born on February 1, 1928, in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. He was the son of Alvin and Pauline (Henrickson) Fischer. Ray was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church in Buffalo Lake. He received his education in Buffalo Lake and graduated with the Class of 1946 from Buffalo Lake High School. Ray furthered his education by attending Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On May 20, 1949, Ray was united in marriage to Donna Ziegler at the EUB Church in Buffalo Lake. After their marriage, the couple farmed near Buffalo Lake, retired in Buffalo Lake but spent winters in Mesa, AZ for 23 years and later moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota. Ray and Donna shared 70 years of marriage and were blessed with five children.
As a youth, Ray belonged to the Buffalo Lake Onwards 4-H Club and was a 3-sport high school athlete. He was a life-long member of the Zion United Methodist Church in Buffalo Lake and the Masons. He belonged to the Buffalo Lake Rod & Gun Club, served on the board of the Buffalo Lake Clinic, represented Renville County watersheds for the State Water & Soil Resource Board and served on the Zion United Methodist Pastor-Parish Relations committee.
Ray had many interests and pastimes. He enjoyed hunting, searching for arrowheads & Indian artifacts, coin collecting, hitting the links with his golf buddies and painting. He was an avid reader who not only enjoyed books, but usually read more than one newspaper every day. He liked telling a funny story or a joke and generally loved mischief. He developed an interest in aviation at a young age and had his first solo flight at age 17, then earned his pilot’s license at age 18. Fishing was a passion and he made several fishing trips to Canada, Alaska, the Missouri River in S. Dakota, and Minnesota lakes. He and Donna vacationed in Maui, Hawaii for 24 years, and he prized those visits and all things Hawaiian. Ray cherished the time he spent with his aunts, uncles and cousins as well as time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ray passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, at his home in Hutchinson at the age of 91 years. Blessed be his memory.
Left to cherish the memories of Ray are his:
Wife, Donna Fischer of Hutchinson, MN;
Children, Vicki Westrick of Duluth, MN,
Nancy (Mark) Wilberts of Blaine, MN,
Kevin (Terri) Fischer of Spicer, MN,
Keith (Nancy) Fischer of Fort Meyers, FL, and
Jill (Len Fox) Fischer of Duluth, MN;
Grandchildren, Kyle (Amy) Westrick, Kody Westrick, Mataya Westrick, Lencie Westrick, Ryan Wilberts,
Brent (Sara Schryver) Wilberts, Jamie Fischer, Calli Fischer, Molly Fischer, Michael Fischer, Kelli Berg, Tony (Maranda) Fischer;
10 Great-grandchildren;
Other relatives and friends.
Ray was preceded in death by his Parents, Alvin and Pauline Fischer; Sister, Doris Kapping; Grandson-in-law, Ryan Berg.
Sherry (Putney)Pond says
My Sincere sympathies to you Donna and children.
Ed & Connie Newberg says
We are gonna miss Ray stopping by the Hector Airport checking out what’s new.
Ray earned his Private Pilot’s License in 1946 and always had some good stories.