Obituary

Vincent Eric Fischer, Sr., age 83 of Valparaiso, Indiana, passed away on July 5, 2024. He was born on September 23, 1940, in Currie, Minnesota, to Emil and Ruth (Hurley) Fischer.
Vincent is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Jeannette Marion McVay. He is survived by his daughter, Jeannette (Jay) White; son, Vincent (Melissa) Fischer Jr.; ten grandchildren, Bri (Mike Asher) Esposito, John (Emili Holland) Fischer, Briana Hayes, Vincent (Payton) Fischer III, Logan Fischer, Savanah (Matt) Albright, Shelby (Dan) Venegas, Cheyenne (Taylor Vincent) Fischer, Reece Fischer, and Dunkan Fischer; nine great-grandchildren, Jacie and Ripley Albright, Annie and Danny Venegas, Rowan and Grant Fischer, Remington and Colby Vincent, and Sloane Asher. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Vincent graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Currie, Minnesota, in 1958. He and Jeannette were married at the Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Gary, Indiana, in 1963. Vincent retired from US Steel having worked as a bricklayer, machinist, and apprentice instructor. He was a proud activist and organizer for Local 1014.
He was a Master Gardener Gold status, bringing the Junior Master Gardener program and the Three Sisters Native American gardens to South Haven and Crisman Elementary schools where the students called him “Papa” Fischer. Vincent also volunteered at Chellberg Farm and the Porter County Fair. He was a naturalist who supported organic gardening methods. Vincent also raised bees and was the first to identify the presence of the small hive beetle in Porter County.
Vincent was an amateur woodcarver and taxidermist. He enjoyed taking and teaching art classes, particularly drawing and painting and volunteered at the Chesterton Art Fair. He was a member of Banta Senior Center in Valparaiso and the Valparaiso Moose Club where he enjoyed socializing and playing pool.
In his younger days, Vincent boxed Golden Gloves and played basketball. He was once carried on the shoulders of the opposing team after a great game. Later, Vincent held sectional and national titles in archery for traditional recurve. He enjoyed westerns and learned to play the guitar as an adult.
An alumnus of Valparaiso University, Vincent was a lifelong learner and especially enjoyed history, literature and art. Special interests included Goethe’s theories of color and light.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Avenue, Portage, Indiana 46368. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in McCool Cemetery, Portage. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.ee-fh.com.

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