Larry Joe Fisher

March 8, 1951 - January 31, 2022

Larry Joe “Pops” Fisher, age 70 of Thorndale, passed away Monday morning, January 31, 2022, at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple. Services for Larry are scheduled for 2:00 pm Sunday, February 6, 2022 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale with Pastor Craig Schinnerer officiating. Burial will follow in the Salty Cemetery and guests are invited to gather with the family back at St. Paul’s Family Activity Center after the burial. Prior to the funeral, the family will receive guests at a visitation from 6:00-8:00 pm Saturday, February 5 at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale. Larry Joe was born at home March 8,1951, the third son of William Franklin “Billy” and Imogene (Cook) Fisher and raised on the family land in the Salty community. Larry attended Thorndale ISD, graduating in 1969. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where he and Jennifer Sue Patschke, the love of his life, were married on July 11, 1970. Larry worked 45 years at ALCOA as an industrial electrician, retiring in April 2014 as one of the last workers at the Rockdale plant. On his last day at the plant, he rescued a scraggly kitty that became his faithful companion, Patches. Larry devoted his time outside of work to his family and to his community. After more than two decades as an active fireman, where he acted as President for a time, Larry became an honorary member of Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department. He was an elected member of the Thorndale ISD School Board for 22 years and proudly supported his Bulldogs in sports, band, One Act Play, and more all over the state. He was a past director of both the Milam County United Way and Thorndale Chamber of Commerce and a proud member of United Steelworkers of America 4895 holding many offices including PAC chairman. Larry attended many state conventions as a union delegate and lobbied nationally for the Steelworkers and rights of all workers. Larry’s outside interests also included hunting, fishing, and working on firearms. This last interest led to him getting certified in gun repair and he opened Fisher’s Gun Shop in 1985. As someone who never met a stranger, his gun repair and dealings led to many friendships and connections with people all across Texas. He had a keen interest in history and hunted and collected Native American artifacts, easily stumbling across beautiful arrowheads all around Central Texas. When the kids were young, Larry coached little league and umpired games, helping generations of Bulldogs get their start on the diamond. He also had a green thumb, planting and harvesting pecans and many kinds of fruit, ready for Jennifer and the family to turn in to jellies, jams, and desserts. He loved his family and enjoyed family reunions and cooking and planning for those festivities as a “keeper of history and tradition” for the Fisher, Cook, Hollowell, and Richardson lines. He also enjoyed planning and working on various events for St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, especially the annual Chili Supper where he used his personal recipe to prepare the first (and only) roaster of chili for the inaugural Chili Supper in 1984. After many years leading volunteer efforts for this event, he handed the reins to his nephews, and then to his son and nephew and their families. In addition to cheering for his Bulldogs and Aggies, Larry proudly supported his St. Paul Lions and was among the loudest and most faithful fans in maroon and gold, maroon and white, or royal blue and white. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Billy and Imogene Fisher, brother Jerry Lynn Fisher, and father-in-law, Ernest Patschke. Left to celebrate and remember Larry is his wife, Jennifer, of Thorndale: their children, Khrys of New Orleans, LA, Billie Jo of Astoria, NY, and Adam (Courtney) of Thorndale: three grandchildren, Emmerson, Hannah, and Jake; brothers, Jim Fisher of Salty and Keith (Debra) Fisher of Salty; sisters-in-law, Donna Fisher of Thorndale, Gayle Daniell (Tommy Roberts) of Thorndale; mother-in-law, LauraBelle Patschke of Thorndale; a number of beloved nieces and nephews and cousins and in-laws; and his beloved cat, Patches. Serving as Pallbearers: Brian Fisher, Terry Fisher. Jason Fisher, Colby Fisher, Brandon Daniell, Derek Daniell, Micah Merz, Nikolas Merz, Jeff Olbrich, and Jake Fisher Honorary pallbearers include members of the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department and members of USWA 4895 In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations be made to St. Paul Lutheran School’s “Teacher Supply Fund,” St. Paul PTF, or the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department.