Eugene "Gene" Fischer

Eugene "Gene" H. Fischer, 88, Graceville, MN, passed away Monday, August 23, 2021, at Essentia Health in Fargo.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, August 27, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville.

Burial will be at a later date in the Graceville Consolidated Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the church and will continue Friday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Eugene H. Fischer, son of Harry and Matilda (Sauer) Fischer was born March 16, 1933, in rural Dumont, MN.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Dumont.  Gene grew up on a farm south of Dumont and attended St. Peter's Catholic School for eight years.  He lived and worked on the family farm.

He was united in marriage to Martha Chalupnik on April 20, 1954.  The couple made their home north of Wheaton.  In 1956, they moved to Graceville and he started to work for Hoffman Implement where he was employed for over 20 years.

In 1978, he started his business, Gene's Repair, until March 2001 when an accident forced him into retirement.  He was active in the Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in which he was a treasurer for many years.  He loved taking part in many activities of the Knights.  He was also a Graceville volunteer fireman for many years.

Gene loved to fish, go to dances, cultivated gardens on lunch hours and evenings for many, and took many trips throughout the country with his wife.  He built his home in 1979 and made woodworked items for family and friends. He thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings and his time with children and grandchildren teaching them to fish and enjoy the outdoors, playing cards, teasing, eating popcorn, and sharing Tootsie Rolls and root beer barrels with the grandchildren.

Gene is survived by his wife of more than 67 years, Martha Mae of Graceville; children, Christine Ann (John) Peterson of Cloquet, MN, and William Eugene (Theresa) Fischer of Graceville; grandchildren, Eric Peterson of Piscataway, NJ, Jennifer (Bryan) Kopaska of Poway, CA, Benjamin Kohler (Hope Dalton) of Rapid City, SD, Jeffrey (Amber) Kohler of Blackhawk, SD, Kimberly Kohler of Blackhawk, SD, Katelyn Fischer of Madison, MN, Kevin Fischer of Fargo, ND, Jacob Fischer of Holloman Air Force Base in NM, and Nathan Fischer of Graceville; great-grandchildren, Sylvia and Miles Kohler of Blackhawk, SD; brother, Harry (Lynette) Fischer of Graceville; son-in-law, Kevin Kohler of Rapid City; sister-in-law, Marcie Buirge (Wayne Pieske) of Battle Lake, MN; brother-in-law, Charles (Beverly) Chalupnik of Circle Pines, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his daughter, Beverly Jean; his parents, Harry and Matilda Fischer; and his brothers, Joe (Elwina) Fischer and Richard (Dorothy) Fischer; sisters, Bernadine, Mary Margaret, and Margaret.