Richard Fish

Richard D. Fish Sr., age 80 years, of Union Center / Hillsboro, passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

He was born on October 30, 1928 in Rock County, Janesville, Wisconsin to Lloyd and Nora (Garrity) Fish.  Richard was united in marriage to Evelyn Fern Lind on October 5, 1949 by the Justice of the Peace in Mauston; they later renewed their vows in Wonewoc with Father Roman Papiernik.  She preceded him in death on January 12, 1976.

Richard attended the Trippville, West Lima, Mayflower, Hillsboro and Union Center schools and with hard work and dedication, received his high school diploma from Hillsboro High School in 1970.

He started work at a young age to help support his family.  He worked at the age of 16, for the Wonewoc Rendering Works until 1949; Badger Ordinance near Baraboo, 1949-1956; and for Walker Stainless Steel from 1956 to 1984.  He left Walker’s for approximately six months to work in Beloit for Fairbanks & Morris, later returning to Walker’s and retiring in 1984.  Richard also taught welding classes for Walkers in the LaFarge and Elroy school districts for many years.  Working for Walkers also gave him the opportunity to travel to Minnesota, New York, Connecticut and around Wisconsin repairing stainless steel tanks.  After retirement, he did odd jobs which included working at Winchell Welding in Elroy and for the Hillsboro & NorthEastern Railroad in Hillsboro.

He is survived by a very special friend, Millie Maly of Elroy; his children, Roger Fish (Valorie Semingson) of West Salem, Richard Jr. (Sue) Fish of Cashton, Patsy (Kevin) Alderson of Cashton, Karen (Kenny) Phinney of Baraboo and Mary (Jeff) Parchem of Baraboo; grandchildren, Stephanie, Christopher and Katie Fish, Cassandra (Matt) Kuhn, Candace (Scott) Hoff, Jeremy (Angie) Biermeier, Bryan (Christin) Biermeier, Dana (Greg) LaBansky, Joe Alderson, Ryan (Nichole) Alderson, Jena (Larry) Bond, Brandon Phinney, Cole Parchem, Samantha Pittman, and Maranda Hernadon; fourteen Great-Grandchildren; a sister, Rose Zella Lounsbury of Hillsboro and a brother, Lloyd Fish Jr. of Union Center.  In addition to his wife, Evelyn, he was preceded in death by two sons, Robert Fish and an infant, Randy Fish; two sisters, Mary Meiden and Flora Montgomery; and two brothers, Everett Fish and an infant, Alexander Fish.  He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hillsboro with Father Joseph Nakwah officiating.  Burial will be in the Mount Vernon Cemetery in Hillsboro.  Friends may call at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Vigil and Rosary Service at 7:30 p.m. and at the Church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.