Memorial services for Kenneth E. (Ken) Fisher, 93, Lawrence, Kansas will be at 11 am Saturday, May 22nd at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jeni Anderson officiating Inurnment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery with military services provided by the United States Navy and the American Legion Post 14. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Ken died peacefully on May 6, 2020, at Bridge Haven in Lawrence.
Ken was born January 6, 1927, the son of Samuel and Lilias Fisher. He was raised in the Alta Vista, Kansas community. He served 2 years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war he used the G.I. Bill and secured his first college degree in education from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina.
His first year of teaching was in a one room school in Morris County, Kansas. He then moved to Council Grove, Kansas and while there for 10 years he was a teacher, a principal, and the Superintendent of the city school system. While in Council Grove he attended Emporia State Teachers College and secured his Master’s degree in Education.
Ken moved to the Lawrence School system in 1961 and was principal of the Sunset Hill Elementary School for 7.5 years; principal of Central Junior High for 2.5 years and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Facilities of the district for 19 years. During his time in Lawrence he secured his Specialist in Education Degree from Kansas University.
He retired from the Lawrence School System in 1990 and then taught Kansas Public School Finance and School Management classes in the Graduate School at K.U. for 5 years. During his 45 years in education he served on many state committees. He was president of the Kansas Association of School Business Officials (KASBO) during the 1981-82 school years and awarded their Distinguished Service Award in 1992. He was on many of the legislative committees of the United School Administrators of Kansas (USA) during the 1970s and 1980s. He also served on many local civic committees in both Council Grove and Lawrence.
Ken was preceded in death by 3 of his four siblings, and by his son Michael. He is survived by his high school sweetheart Helen, his wife for 73 years; his son Kenneth Joel and wife Denise; Mike’s wife Linda; 6 grandchildren, Laben, Jess, Jared, Makayla, Ashley, and Tyler; 4 great grandchildren, Kaden, Connor, Miles, and Wyatt; one step great grandchild, Kylie; and a loving network of extended family and friends.
Ken liked to play golf with his friends. And on special occasions he would write poems about his family and friends, and then read the poems at their gatherings. During the past few years Ken stated several times that he has been a lucky and fortunate person in that he has lived a reasonably long and healthy life; has worked in a vocation which he enjoyed very much; and has been blessed with a good and wonderful family.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Schools Foundation, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
