Franklin Walter FISCHER

FISCHER, WICKERSHEIM, RAECKER, OBRECHT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/26/2008 at 23:50:56

MESERVEY - Franklin Walter Fischer, 88, formerly of Meservey, died Saturday (July 17, 1999) at the Hampton Health Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Salem Evangelical Methodist Church, in Meservey, with Pastor Jim Gochenour officiating. Burial will be in the Meservey Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Grarup Funeral Home, Meservey.

Franklin was born Feb. 28, 1911, at Meservey to Herman Fischer and Lydia Christina (Wickersheim) Fischer. His mother passed away shortly after the birth of her eighth child and two years later, his father married Amanda Raecker. Franklin often spoke of the good relationship he had with his stepmother. Following graduation from Meservey High School, he attended Iowa State College at Ames where he graduated with a degree in engineering. He was married to Grace Elizabeth Obrecht on June 16, 1934, with whom he shared his life for 47 years, until her death Dec. 31, 1981. Franklin worked nine years at Standard Oil Bulk Delivery in Meservey, prior to enlisting in the Air Force and served four years during World War II. He was a Liaison Pilot in the European Theater, during the War. His vivid memory was often told how he flew the plane in the area near Auschwitz gas chambers the day after the War in Europe ended. They could see the smoke still coming from the incinerators. They landed, could smell the burning flesh and could see a few people staggering about. They hurried back to their plane and flew to their base and reported the information to their commander, who in turn, quickly dispatched ambulances, doctors and nurses to get the few people who were still alive. This was where 1.6 million Jews were gassed and burned. After returning from the service, he and his wife settled in Gilmore City, Iowa where he owned the Gilmore Oil Company and his wife taught lower elementary school for many years. Later he sold his business and then worked as a draftsman for Hotsy Mfg. Co. in Humboldt, where they made their home until retirement, when they moved to Edinburg, Texas.

Golf was a great past time for Franklin and his wife during retirement years and after her death, he often played 18 holes, six days a week. After her death, he returned to Iowa each summer for several weeks to visit relatives and friends and go fishing in Minnesota. Franklin was a member of the Salem Evangelical Church in Meservey and had been an active member in the Masons at Gilmore City, and member of the American Legion for 54 years.

He is survived by a brother, Lyle Fischer, of Carmichael, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Esther Obrecht, of Thor, Iowa and many nieces and nephews. His parents, stepmother, four sisters, baby Lydia, Marie, Agnes and Lydia; and two brothers, Herman Jr. and Walter preceded him in death. Grarup Funeral Home

July 20, 1999
Mason City Globe-Gazette