Irvalee Evelyn Fisher

Irvalee Evelyn (Schenk) Fisher, age 97, formerly of Zanesville and Columbus, Ohio, and later of Greenville, South Carolina, Phoenix, Arizona, and Safety Harbor, Florida, passed away on May 23, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on February 5, 1929, in Zanesville, Ohio, Irvalee graduated from Lash High School in 1947. She cherished the lifelong friendships she formed there and remained closely connected with many classmates throughout the years. She especially enjoyed organizing and spearheading class reunions, helping friends reconnect and relive treasured memories together.

Irvalee was a woman of deep faith whose church communities became an important part of her life wherever she lived. She was an active and devoted member of Clinton Heights Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio; St. Michael Lutheran Church in Greenville, South Carolina; and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona. She loved fellowship, worship, and music, and enthusiastically participated in church choirs and activities throughout her life. No matter where life took her, she always found a church home and a community to serve and support.

She worked for many years at All State Pest Control and was also a dedicated Girl Scout leader who enjoyed mentoring young girls and creating lasting memories for them. Irvalee loved entertaining family and friends and had a special gift for making people feel welcomed, included, and cared for.

Irvalee had an extraordinarily generous heart. She was the kind of person who would give the shirt off her back to someone who needed it more. She had a deep compassion for others and always made sure the underdog felt included and valued. Her kindness, warmth, and willingness to help others touched the lives of everyone who knew her.

She was also known for her quick wit and candid personality. You never quite knew what she might say next, but more often than not, she left people laughing. Her sense of humor, honesty, and vibrant spirit brought joy and entertainment to countless family gatherings and friendships.

While living in Greenville, South Carolina, she discovered a love for golf and continued playing well into her 70s. In her later years, she embraced adventure and traveled to Egypt and India. Together, she and her husband proudly traveled to all 50 states, creating memories and experiences that reflected their love of exploration.

Irvalee especially treasured the annual Baughman-Schenk family reunions held every August in Ohio. She looked forward to them each year with great excitement, cherishing the opportunity to reconnect with relatives, cousins, and lifelong family friends. Those gatherings brought her tremendous enjoyment, laughter, and countless cherished memories, remaining one of the highlights of her life for many years.

Above all else, Irvalee’s greatest joy was being a grandmother. She deeply cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren and often wished she could have lived closer to share even more moments with them. In the final year of her life, she was blessed with the arrival of her great-grandson, Theo, who brought her immeasurable happiness and renewed joy.

She is survived by her daughters, Karen (Guilkey) Fisher and Amy Fisher; her son, Jeff Fisher; daughter-in-law Abigail (Hinders) Fisher; granddaughter Leah Fisher; grandsons Nick (Nel) Fisher, Graham (Leah Storrs) Fisher, and Zachary Guilkey; and her great-grandson Theo Fisher.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Lorena Schenk; her brother, Albert Schenk Jr.; her sister, Dorothy Jean Parkinson; her husband, Laurence Fisher; and her daughter, Judith Ann Fisher.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Clinton Heights Lutheran Church, located at 15 Clinton Heights Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. Service begins at 11 AM. Following the service, the family invites you to join them for light refreshments and snacks in the Parlor Room located off the sanctuary.

The service will be livestreamed at www.clintonheights.net on the homepage.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Irvalee’s memory by showing kindness to others, including those who may feel left out, and by sharing laughter with the people you love.

She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.