Laura Fisher

Laura L. Fisher, 93, of Adair, Iowa, passed away Friday, March 9, 2007, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.
Laura Louise (Matousek) Fisher was born January 19, 1914, on the prairie near Redig, South Dakota, the daughter of Otto E. Matousek and Judith (Hlava) Matousek. She grew up on the family ranch until 1926 when the family moved to Newton, Iowa, where she attended high school, graduating in 1931. During her youth, she received piano instructions from her mother and became an accomplished musician on piano, violin and other stringed instruments, playing for various institutions including the Christian Science Church in Newton.
Laura attended Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, graduating with her BA in Education and Music. She was a continuing member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
Laura began her teaching career in Marengo, Iowa, and expanded her career to Durango, Colorado, in 1940 where she taught until 1945.
During her Durango career, she met an Army Private, William L. Fisher, through her sister, Lee, and thus commenced a letter writing courtship. Bill and Laura were married on August 14, 1943, at Columbia, South Carolina, while he was on leave from the Army.
After Bill's return in 1945 from WWII European Tour, he and Laura moved to Davenport, Iowa, where Bill joined an existing law firm and Laura continued her teaching career until their son, John, was born in 1949.
Later in 1949, Laura and Bill moved to Adair where Bill purchased the existing law practice and Laura continued care of the family with the addition of Martin in 1952.
Laura returned to her music teaching career in 1960 teaching in the Adair-Casey school system until 1974. She later taught elementary vocal music at the Greenfield school system where she continued until her retirement.
Between work and family, Laura's days were filled with activities. Her civic career included youth music director/conductor, organist, vocalist, Sunday School teacher, Westminister Auxiliary member and officer, governing body member and member of the First Presbyterian Church of Adair. She was a Cub Scout leader for eight years preparing her group of boys to enter the Boy Scouts. She also was a member and accompanist for the Eastern Star and accompanist for Masonic Lodge #283, Casey, Iowa. She was a member of the Adair Library Board for a number of years.
Her homemaking career focused around her active family, flower and vegetable gardens, music, and later her granddaughters. In season she would put up quarts of tomatoes, peaches, bing cherries, pears and vegetable sauces, bring the colors of the rainbow to her flower garden and during the Christmas holidays bake specialty cookies, breads, fruitcakes, and the essential Bohemian kolaches.
She passed on her cooking, baking and tea party skills to the loves of her life, her granddaughters, Livia, Laine and Lynae.
Laura entertained folks with her piano music through out her life continuing through her stay at the Adair Community Health Center. She never lost her ability to play a tune in swing time.
Laura is survived by her husband Bill; sons, John and Martin; daughter-in-law, Linda Hemminger; and granddaughters, Livia, Laine and Lynae. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister and brother-in-law, Emma Lee and Gerry Geise, a brother, Edward O. Matousek, and special aunts and uncles.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at the First Presbyterian Church in Adair, Iowa, with the Reverend Char Reif officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Adair. Burial will be in the Sunnyhill Cemetery, Adair.
Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Adair, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.