FISTER, Robert E. 1927-2012
FISTER, GREY, PRIBBLE, SPRAG, FOSS
Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 9/28/2018 at 19:59:12
Robert E. "Bob" Fister died on March 18, 2012, at Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo.
He was born in Grinnell on Jan. 18, 1927, to Gladys and John Mitchell Fister. He was the fifth of six children. As a result of conditions during the Great Depression, he and two brothers were sent to the Annie Wittenmyer Children's Home in Davenport. He came to Waterloo at age 16 as a ward of Fern and Elwin Grey, teachers at West High. He graduated from West High in 1945.
He began working as a proof boy and retired from the Waterloo Daily Courier in 1989 after 44 years in the display advertising department. At The Courier, he met his future wife, Jeanne L. Sentman. They were married in 1952 following Mr. Fister's discharge from the Army. Mr. Fister was assigned to the IV Division, which was the first division returned to Germany at the beginning of the Cold War.
Mr. Fister was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church since coming to Waterloo. He served in a variety of positions and was most recently an Elder. He served as a Waterloo School Board member from 1978 to 1984, a responsibility he took very seriously. Mr. Fister was one of the founding members of the Crossroads Rotary Club and served as the permanent secretary after his retirement.
Mr. Fister was a diehard Cubs fan, an affliction he passed to his children. With his loyalty to the Cubs, Mr. Fister cheerfully endured the usual verbal jabs. His reply was often, "Everybody can root for a winner; it takes a fan to root for the Cubs."
Mr. Fister was preceded in death by his wife in 2008; sisters Etta Pribble and Anna Mae Sprag; a brother, Eldon Fister; and son-in-law Robert W. Foss.
Mr. Fister is survived by his daughter, Lesa Foss and grandson William of La Porte City; son Brad Fister (Trish) and grandson Ian of Huntsville, Ala.; and brothers Harvey Fister and Jack Seward (Juanita).
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 22, in Memorial Chapel at Memorial Park Cemetery, with interment in the cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross or the Westminster Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund.
Locke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
SOURCE: Waterloo Courier newspaper
NOTE: See photo of his grave marker on GPP,
at Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery.
GPP - iowagravestones.org
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen