HUGH J. FISHER's Obituary
HUGH J. FISHER, 83, of L'Anse, MI. passed away suddenly Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital, L'Anse. He was born in Powers, MI. on March 26, 1922 son of the late Herbert and Alice (Boyd) Fisher. Hugh attended school in Engadine, MI. and graduated from Manistique High School in 1939. Following high school, Hugh joined his father and other family members working as a section crewmember for the Soo Railroad. He married the former Elsie Boucha in Manistique, MI. on September 18, 1940. Hugh entered the Army in 1943 serving in the Medical Corps. He was captured in 1944 and was a POW for 4 long months. Following his liberation, he was decorated and received the Purple Heart medal. He was featured in a book authored by his grandson called “A Medica War". After his military service, Hugh returned to work for the Soo Line until he joined the Michigan Conservation Department in 1947. He served as a conservation officer in Garden and Nahma and later in Escanaba for 18 years when he was promoted to the L'Anse area as District Fire Supervisor. he was shortly promoted to District Law Enforcement Supervisor, a position he held until his retirement from the Department of Natural Resources in 1978. Hugh loved working with his fellow officers and he loved working for and with the public. In his retirement , Hugh was an avid reader of WWII history, trying to gather an understanding of the conflict he was so intimately a part of. Hugh enjoyed golfing in his earlier years but was primarily a lover of the outdoors where he loved to walk and hunt. Most of all his love and devotion was directed to his wife, Elsie, whom he adored. Hugh was a member of the Boucha-Draves-Raski Post 8372 VFW post in Engadine. He served as the second commander of that post and was active in POW affairs. Hugh was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and being at his camp.
Mr. Fisher is survived by his loving wife, Elsie, sons, John (Irene) of Escanaba, Harland (Virginia) of Ft. Meyers, FL. and Charles (Colleen) of Okinawa and Skanee, grandchildren, Tonya, Rhett, Tyler, Kaylin, Linnea, Nathan, Michelle, and Joe, great-grandchildren including, Matthew, Holden, Jillian, Megan, Dylan, Steven, Kayla, Michael, Brandon, and Devin. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Cecil and Robert.
Funeral services for Mr. Fisher were held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 15, 2005 at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel. L'Anse with Pastor John Henry officiating. Interment took place in the L'Anse Evergreen Cemetery. The family received friends on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until time of the service. Baraga County Area Veterans under the direction of Baraga American Legion Post 444 honored Mr. Fisher with graveside military honors. DNR officers served as honorary guards and casket escorts. Following th services, the family invited friends to join them for fellowship and luncheon in the Harrington Gathering room, located at the funeral home. Memorials in Mr. Fisher's honor may be directed to the Military Order of the Purple Heart or VFW Post 8372.
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