Arlene Fisher
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Arlene J. (Christenson) Fisher, 80
Arlene Joyce (Christenson) Fisher, 80, of Austin, passed away at St. Marys Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer, April 20, 2009, surrounded by her family.
She was born on May 12, 1928, to Milo and Alice (Tangen) Christenson in Ostrander, Minn. She spent her childhood on the family farm in Ostrander and enjoyed a close and lifelong relationship with her loving family. Arlene graduated from the Spring Valley High School in 1946 and was united in marriage to Jack Fisher on March 1, 1951. Throughout her life, Arlene has always had a compassion for children and the elderly. She tenderly cared for both her mother-in-law and mother in their later years. She was employed by Green Thumb, where she provided childcare services and worked at the senior center.
Arlene’s greatest joy in life was to be surrounded by her family. She spent a lifetime celebrating Christmases and annual summer picnics with her siblings and their families. She also delighted in having her children grandchildren and great-grandchildren come and visit. She would bustle around making coffee, serving cookies, popcorn and ice cream and doing everything in her power to ensure that each guest was comfortable and well-fed.
Arlene is survived by her children, James (Betty) L. Fisher, Austin; Sharon (Dan) Zika, International Falls, Minn., Vicki Fisher, Austin, Nancy (Mike) Johnson, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Carolyn Able, Austin, David (Cindy) Fisher, International Falls; 15 grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; brothers and sisters, Merlin (Jackie) Christenson, Ostrander, Minn., Cleone Schula, Rochester, Minn., Dale (Patty) Christenson, Rochester, Kermit (Jean) Fisher, Pine Island, Minn., Ruby (Larry) Holsapple, Bloomington, Minn., Priscilla (Doug) Rownd, Oronoco, Minn., Linda (Doug) Johnson, Rochester, Barbara (Gene) Golenzer, Rochester; aunt, Ruth Cooper, Marshall, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Irene Fisher, Rochester, Phyllis MacIntosh, Owatonna, Minn.; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, parents and one granddaughter, Jenny Ruth Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, April 24, 2009 at Cornerstone Church with the Reverend Michael Johnson officiating. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Casket bearers will be Zachary Johnson, Caleb Johnson, Ryan Anderson, Jordan Anderson, Luke Zika and John Kohtz.