Gabe was born in Ipswich, South Dakota, into the large combined family of Adam Fischer and Christina Baumgartner Scherr Fischer; he was the 15th of 16 children. The Fischer family moved to Yakima when he was seven years old, and it was here that Gabe attended school, eventually graduating from Marquette High School. He enlisted in the US Navy on May 13, 1947, in Yakima. He was Honorably Discharged on May 7, 1952, in Newport, Rhode Island, having reached the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer Torpedoman on the Destroyer USS Harwood and Honorary Submariner on the USS Sea Cat.
Gabe met his future wife Beatrice Martelly, in Newport, and they were married on September 13, 1952, in Bristol, Rhode Island. After a drive across the country, to take his new wife home to Yakima, he soon found his life’s work as a salesman. For most of his working years Gabe was an automobile salesman at Wagner Chevrolet, and then at Wikstrom Motors. In his “retirement” he continued selling as a promotional marketing representative, as well as buying and selling a few cars and houses periodically, for relatives, friends, and neighbors. Word of mouth was his greatest sales tool.
He took his two sons fishing and hunting, and taught them the basics of car mechanics. His favorite “fishing hole” was around the mouth of the Klickitat River – fishing for Steelhead. Gabe enjoyed singing: at home, in the church choir, and while floating on the Yakima River with his children, and his nieces and nephews, and he passed the gift of music onto his children.
Gabe is survived by his wife Bea, his four children and in-laws: Sharon Fischer and Tom Kearney, of Spokane, WA; Mark and Karen Fischer, of Yakima; Dan and Joan Fischer, of Olympia, WA; and Lynn Crofton, of San Francisco, CA; his nine grandchildren: Martin Kearney-Fischer, and Kennedy Kearney-Fischer; Randi Lynn (Jonathon) Lopez; Adam Fischer, Dannel Fischer, Emily (Marc) Ayers, and Stephanie (Aaron), Kasza; and McKenna Crofton, and Jack Crofton; and three great-grandsons: Thaddeus, Felix, and Simeon. He also has two sisters who are still living, both over 100 years old: Rose and Chris; and numerous nieces and nephews and their offspring.
Watching his parents live to be 100 and 98, Gabe’s greatest fear was living too long. Those of us left behind wish he had been with us a little longer. A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on May 25th at 9 am at Holy Redeemer Church. Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery with Military Honors. To share a memory of Gabe please visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.
