Nellie Jo Fischer

Nellie Jo Fischer, born Nellie Josephine Iron Wing, passed away April 8, 2009 surrounded by family and love. Nellie Jo was born on September 11, 1931 to Pearl Rowland and William Leo DeSersa in Rapid City, South Dakota. She attended Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian Boarding School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where she was Salutatorian, Prom Queen, and received a scholarship to Penn State Nursing School in Pennsylvania. In 1950 she was Miss Black Hills, her beauty was highly regarded. She was an excellent photographer and loved to draw. She met the love of her life, Harvey Fischer of Taylor, Texas, while he served in the United States Air Force in Rapid City. In 1953, Nellie Jo and Harvey Fischer were married in Austin, Texas. She had two children, Linda Marie and David Michael while he attended The University of Texas and in 1961 she had her youngest, Patrick Myles. Nellie Jo travelled with the family throughout the United States to meet the challenges of Harvey's professional demands until settling in Midland, Texas in 1964. They lived the next 43 years in Midland, a town they saw through many changes and grew to love. They were very attached to the West Texas skies and the warmth of the Midland community in which they lived. Nellie moved to Austin in 2008 and lived at Parmer Woods Assisted Living. It was a difficult transition but one made better by the warmth and care of the Parmer Woods Staff. Nellie Jo was foremost a wife, mother and homemaker. Her greatest enjoyment was her family. She loved movies and reading. Nellie Jo took tremendous pride in being American Indian and valued her native home of Rapid City greatly. She grew up in a time of extreme racial disparity and this did affect her outlook on life. She took special care to teach her children to be kind, loving and tolerant. Nellie Jo was special and talented at everything she attempted. Her artistry, creativity and intelligence will be greatly missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, Pearl and Leo, her adopted father, Harry Iron Wing and her husband, Harvey Fischer. She is survived in death by her half sister Leona Baldwin of El Monte, California; her three children, Linda Fischer-Luna and husband Rafael Luna of Austin, TX; David Fischer of Las Vegas, NV; Patrick Fischer and wife Kari Hughes Fischer, their children Kassidy and Logan of Las Vegas, NV; her nephew Steven "Sonny" R. Iron Wing and family of Marysville, Washington; her "adopted" daughter Anna Pedroza and husband Bob Chapin, "adopted" grandson Nicolas Chapin. Also surviving are the brothers and sisters of Harvey as well as their families. The family wishes to thank Gracy Woods II and Lighthouse Hospice for their kind care and attention to Nellie in her last days. A memorial service is to be held at a later date to be announced in Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please give to a charity of your choice.