Jack Fisher

Jack, a lifetime resident of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully, February 21, 2008 at the Friendship Village Health Center. Jack was born March 19, 1921 to Sidney and Bertine (Pattison) Fisher in Kalamazoo. Some longtime Kalamazoo residents will remember Jack as one of the stars on the 1937-39 football teams, at the old State High School. He was the center and a defensive player on a team whose linemen averaged 200 pounds - a very big team for those days and was undefeated for the two seasons. He received his pilot license in 1942 and enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He received a medical discharge in 1943. He traveled to Rochester, MN and enrolled in the glider training school at which time he met Katherine Elliott at a Mayo Clinic Social Club dance. He was united in marriage to Katherine on October 20, 1945. They were married for 55 years until her passing on August 25, 2000. Jack and Kay owned and operated Zig's Little Statler, which was later renamed Fisher's Restaurant at 459 N. Rose St, from 1945 to 1965. That was in the days when more than 20 trains a day stopped at the Kalamazoo Train Depot, many passengers would cross the street for a fast meal. In 1964, Jack received his real estate license and joined the Bob Simon Realty Company. In 1969, he was employed by the City of Kalamazoo as an assistant real estate officer in the purchasing department. He became the City's Real Estate Officer in 1978, a position he held until his retirement in 1983. After retiring, he and Kay traveled all over the United States in their motor home. Jack was actively involved in the Milwood Little League; and loved fishing, golfing, bowling, baseball, and football - he loved all sports. Jack was also a lifetime member of the B.P.O. Elk Lodge # 50; and a volunteer fireman. Surviving are his son, John Fisher and his wife Lee Ann of Orchard Lake; his daughter, Susan Gudme and her husband David of Kalamazoo; a granddaughter, Sally Fisher of Orchard Lake; his brother-in-law, Charles Elliott and his wife Marlys of Rochester, MN, and their children; a second cousin, Briggs MacGreggor, and his daughter Ellie. He will also be missed by his friend and companion, Jean Koopsen and all of his friends he had coffee with almost every morning. Memorial services for Jack will be at 3:00 PM on Monday (tomorrow) at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street. Friends may visit with the family on Monday from 1:00 PM until the time of services. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be directed to Ann N. MacGregor Scholarship Fund, c/o Kalamazoo Community Foundation, 151 S. Rose St., Suite 332, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.