Willis H. Fischer

Willis H. Fischer of Longmont died peacefully after a long illness on August 4th, 2016, at Balfour Senior Living, aged 81. He was surrounded by family, friends, and music.Will was born in Eureka, South Dakota, on March 9, 1935. He graduated from Eureka High School in 1953, received a college music scholarship from The Rotary Club, and graduated from Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota, with a double major in Business and Music. Will taught instrumental music and business for 6 years in South Dakota.Will married Ardys Warkenthien on August 5, 1956, in Clark, South Dakota, where they spent the first seven years of their married life. After teaching in South Dakota, Will and Ardys moved to Boulder in 1963. He joined his brother in business at The Campus Shop on University Hill. While running the business, Will pursued his education, received his master's degree from the University of Colorado and became a University of Colorado employee in 1969, eventually becoming the Administrative Director of the University of Colorado statewide Real Estate Education Program and a member of the Colorado Real Estate Board. Will retired from the University of Colorado Continuing Education Department in 1994 after 25 years of service. After retirement, he volunteered for 15 years at the University of Colorado Football office.Will is survived by his wife, Ardys Fischer, of Longmont. He was the proud father of three sons and one daughter: Kerry Fischer and wife Linda, of Boulder, W. Neil Fischer and wife Teresa, of Elbert, Jim Fischer and wife Janice, of Broomfield; and Kathryn Bly and husband Joseph, of Gardnerville, Nevada. He leaves behind sisters-in-law Dorothy Fischer, of Denver, and Ruth Swanson, of Concord, California; brother-in-law Vern Warkenthien and wife Jerri, of Superior; and eight grandchildren: Derek, Sarah, Travis, Rachael, Heather, Marci, Chase, and Tabitha; great-grandson, Ryker; and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry K. Fischer and Rose Neuharth Fischer St bner, brothers Norman and Robert Fischer, sister Eileen Danielson, and brother and sister-in-law Allen and Kay Warkenthien, and Mother-in-law and Father-in-law Vernon and Nancy Warkenthien.Will loved people, and he never considered anyone a stranger. He joyfully helped his fellows, be they co-workers, family, or friends. The caption under his picture in the Continuing Education booklet read: Will Fischer¦where there's Will, there is a way!A funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry St., Longmont, CO. Interment will be held at Longmont Mountain View Cemetery following the reception.