Richard "Dick" Mario Fischer

Richard Mario Fischer died Monday, November 4, 2024 after eating his final bowl of ice cream. He was 87. Known as “Dick” to his friends, “Grandpa/Papa” to his grandchildren” and “Uncle Dickie” to his nephews. He was a man of intelligence, compassion, integrity and wit. 

Dick graduated from East High School in 1955, where he was a student—by his account, a lazy one. He had a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and was a member of the PSI Upsilon Fraternity. 

Dick worked for Halverson Equipment, owned and operated Branch Distributing and American Greenery, and he finished his career at Azcon Corporation as Vice President and General Manager. 

Dick was active in the Duluth community, serving as Vice President for the Duluth Chamber of Commerce, Secretary Treasure for the Rotary Club, Chairman of Woodland Hills, and Chairman of the Depot Foundation, where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dick was proud to have raised his children at Lake Vermilion and found his happy place one week each year at the Brule River. He liked to tell stories of his youth, growing up on the East Hillside over Lake Superior. His love of gardening and tinkering came from following his father Mario around the garden and learning how to fix things. He knocked off the La La Palooza Sundae at Bridgeman’s before he turned eighteen. His older brother, Bob, once rolled him down 26th Ave East in a car tire. 

Dick had an abundance of friends, for he possessed that rare and genuine gift for connection. Dick was an eccentric connector and loved nothing better than mingling with a crowd, the stranger the better.

Dick loved nature, traveling, gardening and most of all his wife. He also loved ice cream and knew the location of every Dairy Queen in the Tri-State area. He made a mean martini. He was a puzzler without peer. He loved nothing better than to sit down at his puzzle table after dinner and make the pieces fit. And that was Dick. He made the pieces fit, in his life and others. He will be sorely missed. 

Dick greatly loved his family, and his family greatly loved him. He is preceded in his death by his father, Mario; mother, Lorraine; and brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara; daughter Lisa; sons, Bob (Chandra) and Bill (Tamiko), and his eight grandchildren. 

A celebration of Dick’s life will occur at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Duluth. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Lakeside Presbyterian Church 4430 McCulloch Street, Duluth, MN 55804 

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555. Please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.