C. Gary Fischer

C. Gary Fischer
We remember our beloved Carl Gary Fischer, who passed away May 6, 2020.
Gary was born January 1, 1941, in Grafton, North Dakota, to Carl and Isabelle (Pokrzywinski) Fischer. He grew up on a family farm near Cashel, North Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Grafton Lutheran Church.
He attended rural elementary school in Walsh County at Martin District #55, and graduated in 1959 from Grafton High School. His love of science was evident early on, and as a junior in high school his electro-plating project won him a prestigious National Science Fair prize, which included a five-day cruise with the United States Navy. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, on June 1, 1963. He was a truly dedicated Cobber for the rest of his life, attending ball games, concerts, and homecomings.
Gary worked for American Crystal Sugar from June 7, 1963, to August 31, 2001. He started as a chemist in Rocky Ford, Colorado, and then in Drayton, North Dakota, and went on to management positions in Drayton, North Dakota, Crookston and Moorhead, Minnesota, and Hillsboro, North Dakota. He was also very proud to have served in the United States Army National Guard in the 957th Engineer Company of Cavalier, North Dakota.
On June 25, 1966, Gary married the love of his life, Anna Marie Almen, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Park River, North Dakota.
He was a spiritual man and an active member of Grafton Lutheran Church, Drayton Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crookston, Minnesota, and Messiah Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota.
As an amateur radio operator with the call sign KBØM, he is now a Silent Key. He enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, bowling, volunteering in civic organizations, traveling, telling jokes, music, gadgets, technology, cars, and a good meal with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Anna Marie, daughter, Jill, and her husband, Nabil Al-Masri of Chaska, Minnesota, son, Ryan of Warsaw, Indiana, granddaughter Nadia Al-Masri of Chaska, Minnesota, sister, Carol Fedje of Hoople, North Dakota, and brother-in-law, Lowell Almen and his wife Sally of Gold Canyon, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law, Winston Fedje, and his parents-in-law, Paul and Helen (Johnson) Almen.
The family is grateful for all of the expressions of sympathy, support, and kindness. It is very much appreciated.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., with a prayer service starting at 7:00 P.M. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 2:00 P.M., with a visitation one hour before, at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fargo. Burial will take place at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Park River, ND.