Bonnie Fischer

Bonnie Fischer, age 75, of Festina, IA, died on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at her home in Festina, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 27 at the Festina Parish Center in Festina, Iowa, with Rev. Harold Peterson presiding. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waterloo, IA. Friends may call from: 4:00 – 8:00, on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at the Festina Parish Center in Festina, IA. Bonnie Leon (Gerst) Fischer was born on October 9, 1935, the daughter of Rudolph and Mary (Gansemer) at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, IA. Bonnie attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Waterloo. She married Martin Fischer on June 11, 1965, in Peoria, IL, and together they had three children: Martin, Jr. Regina and Shane. Bonnie worked at various places before going to work at Agri Processors, Iowa Turkey Products and her last job was working for the Government as a USDA meat inspector. Bonnie enjoyed driving around the countryside and counting the deer that she and Martin would see. She enjoyed this activity so much that she kept a notebook with the day and the number of deer they would see. Bonnie also loved to go fishing, especially to Lake Meyer, Volga Lake, Rock Creek, Otter Creek and Big Creek. Another past-time was listening to the birds and watching the hummingbirds. Bonnie had very memorable trips with her husband, Martin, traveling to the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Lake Geneva and to Arkansas. Over the years, Bonnie enjoyed visiting her relatives and friends, along with playing cards with her family; finding humor in each card game played. Going to flea markets and auctions played an important part of her life. Bonnie’s survivors include her husband: Martin Fischer, Sr., Festina, IA. Three children: Martin (Christine) Fischer, Jr., Ossian, IA; Regina (Jeff) Kipp, Fort Atkinson, IA; and Shane (Sue) Fischer, Cedar Falls, IA. Four grandchildren: Amanda, Mark, Justin, and Andy. Brothers and sisters-in-law: Jerry (Barb) Fischer, Fort Atkinson, IA; Bobby (Nancy) Fischer, Lincoln, IA; and Margaret Phillips, Waucoma, IA. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents: Rudolph and Mary Gerst. Four brothers: Daniel (Marcella) Gerst, Eugene (Mikey) Gerst, Rudolph (Marilyn) Gerst and Derold (Beverly) Gerst. Two sisters: Wilhelmina (Homer) Davis and Kathleen (Hugh) Murray. Two brothers-in-law: Mitchell (Diane) Fischer and Clarence Fischer. Two sisters-in-law: Venitta (Ernest) Phillips and Mary Lou Bigler.