Donald "Don" L. Fischer

Donald “Don” L. Fischer, age 88, was an outdoorsman who loved riding his snowmobile up north and out west in Yellowstone Park. Don entered into eternity on August 30, 2014 with his loving family at his side at home in Elizabeth, Illinois. Cremation rites have been accorded. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 5, 2014 at the Church of the St. Mary Catholic, Elizabeth with Father Dennis Morrissy as Celebrant. Burial of his cremated remains will take place in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Elizabeth. A memorial fund has been established in Don’s memory.
Don was born on March 28, 1926, the son of Frank and Elsie (Schreck) Fischer in Freeport, Illinois. He attended Elizabeth High School and graduated with the Class of 1944. The night of his graduation, Don boarded a train and joined the United States Navy. Don married Wyla Oates on May 12, 1947 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Elizabeth. She passed away March 9, 2000. Don later married Carol Rife-Tippet on November 17, 2001 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Elizabeth.
Don and his brother Edmund owned and operated Fischer’s Pluming and Heating in Elizabeth until 1993. He was a member of the Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department and held the title of Fire Chief, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Elizabeth, the Knights of Columbus and the Hanover VFW Post 5300. Don spent as much time as he could outdoors; he was the founder of the Elizabeth Sno-Scooters Snowmobile club. He enjoyed fishing, but most of all he cherished the time spent with family and friends.
Don will be dearly missed by his wife, Carol; two daughters Joanne Haas of Savanna, Illinois, Randy Marie (Larry) Anderson of Moline, Illinois; son Steven Fischer of Coconut Creek, Florida; seven step children, Rick (Karen) Tippett of Elizabeth, Herb (Cindy) Wilson of Monroe, Wisconsin, Mike Tippett of Rockton, Illinois, Rus (Chris) Tippett of Stockton, Illinois, Terry (Lori) Patterson of Elizabeth, Larry (Renee) Walls of Loves Park, Illinois, Jason (Stacey) Tippett of Lena, Illinois; a grandson, Tyson Miller; sixteen step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren and a sister, Elsie Mae Shimanek of Stockton. Don is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Wyla; son in-law, Joe Haas; three brothers, Edmund, Stanley and Delmer.