William "Bill" E. Fischer

William “Bill” “Cat” Fischer, age 91, of Tomahawk, passed away peacefully January 5, 2017, surrounded by his family, telling the stories that Bill loved. Bill was born on November 7, 1925 in Rhinelander to William & Beda (Bergman) Fischer. He was a graduate of Rhinelander High School Class of 1944. He was married to Roberta “Bobbie” DeRocher; together they had two children. Bill and Janiece (Colvin) Hendrick were married in 1994. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the 1st Marine Division in Guadalcanal, Okinawa, and China. In 1953, he graduated from Yankton College in South Dakota with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Michigan University. For 28 years, Bill was a teacher (physical education and drivers education), coach and Athletic Director with the Tomahawk School District. Prior to coming to Tomahawk, he coached and taught at Birnamwood, Kiel & Chetek. As Tomahawk’s first Athletic Director, Bill helped to add wrestling, hockey, cross-country, volleyball and softball to the school’s interscholastic program. He helped start the track program and designed and directed the building of the schools’ outdoor athletic facilities. He was instrumental in adding girls’ athletics in the state of Wisconsin. Bill’s greatest successes as a coach were in basketball. His basketball teams won 3 Conference Championships, 2 Co-Championships, 4 second place finishes and 2 third place finishes. During the 1962-63 season he coached the first Basketball Conference Championship in 35 years. Forty-one of his athletes were also recognized as All Conference selections. In addition to numerous coaching and teaching awards, Bill received two special honors in 1985. Bill was named Athletic Director of the Year from the WIAA and received the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award from the Tomahawk Jaycees for his outstanding contributions to the school and community. Bill was also a Charter Member Inductee of the Hatchet Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Bill traveled extensively during his retirement, including trips to Russia as part of an educational exchange program and Africa on a photo safari with Janiece. His love of the outdoors has been a constant in his life. He built a log cabin with his family in 1980 and has spent countless hours enjoying the beauty of the woods. He wrote a book about his life several years ago and ended it with - I am very happy with my life and I did it the old fashioned way, I “Earned IT!” Bill is survived by his wife, Janiece, of Tomahawk and her 5 children; and his children, Cindy (John) Dove, of Downers Grove, IL and Mike (Vicki) Fischer, of Kaukauna, WI. He is further survived by 5 grandchildren: Amanda (Gary), Johnny, Jonathon, Michael (Crystal) and Bridgette. Bill is preceded in death by his first wife, Bobbie, 2 brothers (Hartwig Bergman and Bob Fischer) and 2 sisters (Marcella Schoeneck and Fran Moritz). The Funeral Service with Military Rites for Bill Fischer will take place Monday, January 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Tomahawk United Methodist Church. Pastor Debra Hastings will officiate. The family will receive friends at the Krueger Family Funeral Home Sunday, January 8, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and again at the church Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m. Memorials appreciated in Bill’s name to the Hatchet Athletic Hall of Fame, American Legion, or the VFW posts in Tomahawk.