Obituary: Orval O. Fisher - Class of 1945

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Orval O. Fisher, age 74, of Madison, passed away on Monday, July 22, 2002, at St. Marys Hospital. He was born on Sept. 9, 1927, at Madison General Hospital, to Vernon and Ethel (Burnsworth) Fisher. Orval graduated from Madison Central High School in June 1945. He entered service in the U.S. Army in September 1945 and stationed at Fort McCoy during World War II. Orval served in the Korean War and went to Vietnam with the 826th as first sergeant with more than 200 men in Long Bindh. He served in the Army for more than eight years and the Reserves for 25 years, retiring from the 84th Division, 2nd Battalion, 339th Regiment, in May 1979. Orval was united in marriage to Patricia Hellenbrand on May 22, 1954, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Ashton. He was employed by Oscar Mayer for more than 40 years as a pipefitter. Orval was a charter member of St. Dennis Catholic Church, where he served as an usher; he was also a member of Oscar Mayer Local No. 538; American Legion Post No. 534, past commander, honor guard and marching unit of VFW Post No. 7591; and a life member of the Bristol Gun Club. An avid sportsman, Orval started fishing and hunting with his dad and continued the pastime with family members and his many friends. An annual Canadian fishing trip became a tradition. Orval is survived by his wife, Pat of Madison; sons, Clifford (Jean) and Brian, both of Madison; a daughter, Denise (Scott) Miller of McFarland; five grandchildren, Reese, Blake and Desirae Fisher, and Rachel and Courtney Miller; step-sisters, Dorothy Leming of Edina, Minn., Joyce (Dick) Sutton of Mount Horeb, and Emilie Hawk of Verona; a step-brother, Ronald (Darlene) Johnson of Mount Horeb; a sister-in-law, Pam Fisher of DeForest; and many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Loren Johnson; a brother, DeWayne; infant brother, Clinton Fisher; step-sisters, Lorraine Hill and Arlene May; and a step-brother-in-law, Dick Leming. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2002, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding. Burial will be held at Highland Memory Gardens, with military rites conducted by the Madison Veterans Firing Squad. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2002, where VFW Post No. 7591 will conduct a pass and review at 7:30 p.m., with a rosary to follow. Visitation will also be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Dennis Catholic Church for masses or to the American Heart Association. Orval died doing what he enjoyed the most, fishing with his son and grandsons. Gunderson East Funeral Home (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 24, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)