Yvonne Kay Fischer

Yvonne Kay (Barnes) Fischer was born November 10, 1940 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was raised on the northeast side of Grand Rapids by her mom and dad, Iris and Bill Wickering along with her siblings Max, Ted, and Cass. She shared a special bond with her maternal grandma Ella.

Yvonne was a fiery woman with a big smile and a soft touch. She was very affectionate, and loved giving her family big cheek kisses and often patted her family’s hands or arms while she spoke with them. During annual camping trips with the family everyone would await a serving of her lemon cake. Yvonne would often look around and say for all to hear “Aren’t we lucky?”

Yvonne attended Riverside Elementary School, then Creston High School where she met the love of her life, Ronald Jay Fischer. Yvonne and Ron married and raised their family – Bruce, Laura, and Todd – in Northeast Grand Rapids with their beloved dogs and active lifestyle.

After her children entered school, Yvonne attended the nursing program at Grand Rapids Junior College then spent years working at Metro Hospital. She was highly regarded by all who worked with her and respected for her professionalism and work ethic.

In their working years, Yvonne and Ron were active cyclists with their friends Tom and Phyllis, participating in the DALMAC bicycle tour several years in a row. In her retired years, Yvonne could be found spending her quarters at the Little River Casino in Manistee with her daughter Laura and her nursing friend Kathy. She never won big at the casino, but she knew she won big in life.

Yvonne and Ron loved Northern Michigan where they had a cabin and eventually retired to Onekama. They enjoyed many years of friendship and fun at the Onekama Marina. They had many adventures throughout their lives, including a trip to Hawaii, and many trips throughout the United States even up to Alaska by RV.

Yvonne and Ron were snowbirds in Nokomis, FL and enjoyed time at the North Jetty on Casey Key. A favorite Florida pastime was playing cards and golfing with Michigan friends Tom and Pat and getting a grouper sandwich at the Casey Key Fishhouse with Laura and Tom.

Yvonne’s love of life and sense of humor will live on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who all reside in West Michigan and have been close to her throughout the years.

She was predeceased by her youngest son Todd William Fischer, her mother and father Iris and Bill Wickering, her brother Max, her sister-in-law Vicky Wickering, her nephew Matthew Sampson, her niece Emily Barnes, her in-laws Charlie and Sue Fischer, Bob and Donna Fischer, Doris and Leonard VanderLynde, and her grandson-in-law Mike Sanders.

She is survived by her loving husband Ron, her son Bruce, daughter Laura (Tom) Jewell and daughter-in-law Michelle (Rick) Miller. She is also survived by her brother Ted Wickering, sister Cass (David) Sampson, sister-in-law Linda Barnes, and grandchildren Nathan (Ryan) Fischer, Colin (Liz) Fischer, Hanah (Trisha) VanderMeulen, Elizabeth (Nick) Roersma, Erin (Erik) Nowak, Jamie (Aaron) Romoslawski, Valerie (Ryan) Tyrell, Jenna (Ross) Perry, Nicole (Kurt) Feenstra, and Ryan (Jess) Fischer, 21 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Yvonne’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, October 25th at Reyers North Valley Chapel at 12pm with visitation the hour prior. She will be laid to rest at Fairplains Cemetery. The family would also like to express their gratitude for the excellent care Yvonne received while living at Sunrise of Cascade for the last months of her life and Optimal Hospice for keeping Yvonne comfortable in her last days. The family asks that memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.