Walter F. Fisher

Reverend Walter F. Fisher passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, in Paris, Texas. A Memorial Service of Celebration will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 5, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bellmead, Texas, with Rev. Larry Kruger officiating. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m., Friday, August 4, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. The Rev. Walter F. Fisher was born at Platte Center, Nebraska, on July 11, 1923, the son of Rev. and Mrs. Henry A. Fisher. At the age of 5, he moved with his father, mother, and two sisters to Los Angeles. He received his early education in the Christian Day School of Trinity Lutheran Church, Los Angeles. He was confirmed by his father in St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Los Angeles. His preparatory study for the Holy Ministry was received at California Concordia College at Oakland, California, where he graduated in 1943. He entered Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, for his theological training. He vicared at Ridgecrest and Trona, California. In 1947, he graduated from Concordia Seminary, holding the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity. He was married to Dorothy Anne Hesemann on June 15, 1947. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Ruth Ann and Thomas Mark. Upon his graduation, he was awarded a Resident Fellowship at Concordia Seminary. In June of 1949, he received the degree of Master of Sacred Theology. On September 21, 1947, he was ordained and installed as the Assistant Pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood Missouri. He was made the head pastor of the congregation in October of 1950. In 1959, he accepted the call of First Lutheran Church, Pasadena, California, where he served until 1966. He was installed as Pastor of Immanuel, Elmhurst, Illinois, on August 28, 1966. He served the congregation until June 28, 1987. Pastor Fisher served the church at large as General Chairman of the Board of Stewardship of the Southern California District of the Lutheran church Missouri Synod, Chairman of the Sierra-Pacific Pastoral Conference and member of the Board of Directors of the Walter A. Maier Lutheran High School of Los Angles. He also served as the Secretary of the Northern Illinois District from 1969 to 1985. In his retirement, he accepted a position at St. Paul Lutheran in Bellmead in November of 1989. He served part-time as Visitation pastor, conducting services on occasion, planning senior member activities, visiting the inactive and shut-in members, and holding Bible classes until April of 1999. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; and his sister, Geraldine. He is survived by his daughter, Ruth and John Lestock of Powderly, Texas; and by his son, Tom and Rosie Fisher of Mexia Texas; six grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his sister, Dorothy Wuertz of Haysville, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Concordia Seminary, St.Louis, Missouri, or your favorite charity. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.