Obituary of Larry Lee Fischer

Larry Lee Fischer, 83, of Coffeyville, KS passed away Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. Larry was born in Nashville, Kansas on May 25, 1936 to Catherine (Schnittker) and Albert Fischer. The family moved to Kingman, KS in 1938 and resided there until 1941 when they moved to Pratt, KS. Larry attended Sacred Heart School through the eighth grade and Pratt High School. He was active in sports during grade school and high school, participating in city league and American Legion baseball as a youth; and football, basketball and track in high school. During his senior year, he was All State in football and basketball and nominated to play in the National All Star basketball game. He was also selected to the Scholastic magazines' All American football team. Following his high school, Larry received a four-year scholarship in basketball from Kansas State University. He was a member of the K-State Final Four team in 1958 and a letterman 1955 thru 1958. While at Kansas State, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and served as treasurer for two years. Following graduation from Kansas State with a degree in accounting, Larry fought forest fires in Alaska before entering the work force and fulfilling his military obligation. Larry was active in the ROTC program while at K-State and completed an active duty stretch in Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Riley, Kansas. He retired as a first Lieutenant from the U.S. Army after serving eight years in a control group. Larry joined the work force in 1958 at C. Robert Belt CPA firm and obtained his Certified Public Accountant certificate in 1962. In 1966, he joined the Coffeyville Packing Company as Treasurer until 1969. In 1969, he joined Medicalodges, Inc. as treasurer and retired from the company as President and Chairman of the Board in 2007. On April 22, 1961 Larry married Mary Kathleen McCarter of Coffeyville, KS and the couple was blessed with two boys and three girls: Steven (Kayla) Fischer currently of Wichita, KS; Angela (Laurel) Davis of Andover, Kansas; Cindy Shields of Overland Park, KS; Julie (Matt) Filby of Denver, CO; and Daniel (Melissa) Fischer of Lenexa, KS. In addition to their five children, the couple has ten grandchildren and three great granddaughters. Larry is also survived by four sisters, Vanita McGoffin, Eula McKedy, Lyola Hatfield, and Carol Malashchuk. During his working years, Larry was active in the Coffeyville Jaycees and served as State Director for several years. He also served on the City of Coffeyville Planning and Zoning Commission for a number of years. He was active on Kansas Health Care Legislative Committee and was very active in drafting the Reimbursement Program for long-term care facilities. Larry was also active in Holy Name Catholic Parish serving on the youth group while their five children were growing up, and served on the Parish Finance Council for a number of years. He also served as Treasurer of Coffeyville Area Community Foundation since 2002. Larry was an active supporter of the Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens. He was preceded in death by his parents, and four sisters, Darlene Fischer, Geraldine Spicer, Georgetta Paskoff and Charlene Rinke. A Rosary Vigil Service will be at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 22nd at Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 23rd at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Daniel Lorimer officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Calvary Cemetery in Coffeyville. Friends may call on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family suggests memorials to Holy Name Catholic School or Holy Name Catholic Church; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed in care of David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.