Kenneth Ray Fischer, son of Walter and Velda (Noble) Fischer, was born April 26, 1942 on the farm north of Republic,
Kansas
. Ken went to Lake rural school District No. 69 and graduated from
Republic
High School
in 1960. He graduated
Fairbury Jr.
College
in 1962 and
Hastings
College
in 1963. He enrolled in Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in
Dallas
,
Texas
and graduated in September 1966. He returned to
Kansas
and began his career as a funeral director in 1966 with Tibbetts Bros. funeral home in
Belleville
,
Kansas
. Ken was married to Nancy Morgan on August 17, 1963 and they had two sons, Kirk and Craig. His involvement in the local community was extensive. He was quite involved in the Belleville Masonic Lodge No. 129 serving as Master in 1972, a Royal Arch Mason No. 69, Hiram Council No. 10 and Concordia Commandry No. 42, NCK Shrine Club, Isis Shrine Temple, Salina, NCK Shrine Club Blue Patrol, serving as President 1982, and since June 1998 was in the Royal Order of Jesters, Court No. 94 of Salina. Ken was a member of the Belleville Lions Club, Kiwanis Club President 1972, Elks Lodge No. 2209 (now Superior Elks Lodge) and the Eagles Lodge No. 3281. He was a Charter member of the Belleville Eagles Ritual Team. He served on the Belleville City Recreation Board for five years, President in 1982 and served on the organizational board for Hospice of NCK holding the office of Treasurer for Republic and Cloud counties. He was a member of the
Republic
United
Methodist
Church
and enjoyed being a part of the 9:00 & 3:00 Coffee Club in
Belleville
. Ken excelled in so many ways during his 44 years as a funeral director and embalmer. Through the years he worked with J.A. & Dean Tibbetts in the
Belleville
funeral home. Eventually he became President of Tibbetts Bros. Inc., the parent company that has 10 funeral homes in north central
Kansas
and south central
Nebraska
. His funeral practice was also on a State level as he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association in 1985. In 1991 he was elected Corporate Board Secretary and served as KFDA President in 1995 & 1996. Ken organized the first Death & Dying Class for High Schools in the State of
Kansas
in 1974. A part of that curriculum is still a part of the high school Psychology class today. Most recently, Ken's passion was for the Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame and
National
Midget
Auto
Racing
Museum
in
Belleville
. He was a charter member and was instrumental in promoting and seeing this dream become a reality. He served as President in 1992. For nearly 20 years, the love of his life has been Sue. Ken and Sue Lyn (Odette) Tuma were married May 8, 1992 in turn 2 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They spent their life together making the memories that will outlast everyone who knew them. "We are as one" was the motto they lived by and shared their life with family and friends. She has been the constant companion especially for the past three and a half years following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Never one to quit, Ken lived his life to the fullest extent in spite of the odds. He and Sue never allowed this disease to get him down. Ken lost his fight with cancer early Saturday morning March 6, 2010 passing from this life at the age of 67 years, 10 months, and 10 days. He was preceded in death by his parents. Ken will be greatly missed, but forever remembered by his wife Sue Lyn of their home; children Kirk R. Fischer and wife Christina and their children Julia & Anna of Niwot, Colorado, Craig A. Fischer and wife Danielle of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Mike Tuma and wife P.J. and their children Jordan & Shae Tuma and Houston & Chase Purcell of Olathe, Kansas, and Shelley Peroo and husband Michael and their twin boys Nathan & Ryan of Olathe, Kansas; his brother and sister-in-law Harold and Betty Fischer of Republic, Kansas; nephews Matt Fischer and wife Jarnee' and children Gabriella & Alessandra of Salina, Kansas, and Scott Fischer and fiancee Christy of Park City, Kansas; many other relatives and a host of friends. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at the Republic School Gymnasium, Republic,
Kansas
with Pastor Roger Walls officiating. Burial was
Lake
Cemetery
, rural Republic. Masonic services were conducted by Belleville Lodge No. 129 A.F. & A.M. Memorials to the Shriner's Crippled & Burned Children's Travel Fund or the Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame Museum in care of the funeral home. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral,
Belleville
,
Kansas
, handled these arrangements.
