Obituary of Otto W. Fischer

Early in the morning of March 22, 2008, Otto W. Fischer, age 97, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. He will be long remembered as a beloved and loyal son, brother, husband, father, grandpa, uncle, congregant, worker, neighbor and friend.As the older of a set of tiny premature twins who were incubated together in a single shoe box in the family’s warming oven, Otto was born May 27, 1910, in Luck, Wisconsin, to Gottfried Frederick Fischer and Charlotte Dorothea Prigge. He was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings: Lydia Fischer Wiggins, Regina Fischer Nast, Arthur Fischer, Carl Fischer, Pauline Fischer Rasmussen Meyer, Lillian Fischer Ekstrand, Bertha Fischer Route, Edward Fischer (his twin) and Walter Fischer. While growing up, Otto lived with his family in Centuria, Wisconsin, where he attended church and school, helped with the family farm and worked for local farmers and businesses. In 1933, he traveled west to Washington State to work for his Uncle Ernest Fischer in the Bordeaux lumber mill near Littlerock. On June 29, 1940, Otto married Lura B. Seward following her graduation from St. Peter Hospital School of Nursing. As a registered nurse and his bride for more than 67 years, Lura provided loving care for Otto to the end of his days. During World War II, Otto worked in Olympia’s shipyard, fitting “ship’s knees” into wooden, ocean-going tugboats being built and sent to England. After the war, the Port of Olympia hired him. When he retired in 1973, he was the port’s maritime and air operations maintenance and dock supervisor. Following his retirement, Otto and Lura spent 27 years as snowbirds to the southwest before they clipped their wings to reside permanently at their Olympia residence. During retirement, they also traveled to Germany twice to visit their son Larry and his family as well as to England to participate in their granddaughter Carolyn’s wedding. Otto’s “one and only” love, Lura, survives him. He is also survived by their three children Larry Fischer, Berlin, Germany; Elaine Fischer House, Olympia; and Frederick Fischer (Shirley), Olympia; five grandchildren Severin Fischer, Munich, Germany; Ted House (Gretchen), Monroe; Carolyn House-Higgins (Andrew), Olympia; Adam Fischer and Jeff Fischer, Hillsboro, OR; three great grandchildren Camille House, Cole House, and Sophia House-Higgins; and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their families. Otto’s Grandfather Adam Fischer was a Lutheran pastor. While growing up, his father Fred was his church’s organist. This legacy of faith and service to church, family and fellowman was deeply ingrained in Otto. He and Lura joined Trinity Lutheran Church, Olympia, in November 1941. During his membership tenure at Trinity, he sang in the choir, worked on committees and participated in many hands-on projects. Otto’s memorial service will be held March 29, 1:00 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran, the church he loved and served. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or to South Puget Sound Community College Foundation. Both are in Olympia, Washington.