Melvin "Mel" J. Fischer

Melvin (Mel) John Fischer passed away surrounded by family in DeSoto, Kansas on Wednesday May 25, 2022 at the age of 96.

A visitation will be held on May 27, 2022 from 4 to 5 pm with services following at the United Methodist Church DeSoto, Kansas.

Mel was born October 4, 1925 in St Louis County, Missouri to William Bernard and Irene Johanna (Noss) Fischer. Mel married the love of his life Amy Read (Howe) Fischer on September 10, 1949. He was preceded in heaven by Amy in 2002. They have 6 children they devoted their love to: Cheryn Swanson (Craig), Bill (Kathy), Suzy Baldwin (Bill), Rick (Pam), Carol Smith (Matt), Brad (Anna). Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren never had to be asked twice if they wanted to go see Bumpa and Nana. Easter was everyone's favorite in Mel’s beautiful spring yard bursting in color.

After working at his first full time job as an ice cream bar dipper at Pevely Dairy (and a lifelong love of ice cream), Mel was called to active duty in the Army November 1943. He then entered the European Theater Operations of WW2 in August 1944 with the 94th 376 infantry CO K. Among many other awards, he earned 4 bronze stars fighting his way from the beaches of France into Germany. He ended up in Dusseldorf on Victory Day. While waiting for his return home, Mel passed the time playing one of his favorite sports on his unit's baseball team. Then later as quarterback on the football team. Soon he was called to enter Warton American Technical School in England to learn Architectural drafting before returning home December 31,1945. That prepared him for entering Washington University where he earned a B.S. dual degree in Architectural Engineering. This led him on a path as a licensed civil engineer of many projects from roads and buildings to airport planning and design with the FAA. Noted airport projects included Dulles, O'hare and KCI. He also liked helping smaller airport projects get off the ground and become the success stories they are today. After his FAA retirement, Mel continued consulting airport projects both domestically and abroad. Mel always found ways to support the community and environment around him. Meals on wheels was one of his favorites and he was known to do more for people than delivering meals.

He was always repairing things for those in need or helping in their gardens and delivered meals until he turned 90. Nature was always one his top interests and he stayed busy establishing native prairie grasslands in parks or building trails to be enjoyed for generations. He found ways to strengthen the community he lived in with The DeSoto Kansas Rotary.

Mel impressed his children by example to give back through volunteering and help improve the world. Through camping, canoeing, hiking or gardening all learned to appreciate and respect nature. He and Amy were also the best role models to their children and grandchildren of what is important in life and always encouraged achievement. The engineer in Mel taught his children that any job big or small can be accomplished with not only sufficient planning but the motivation to move forward with intention.

Ice cream for everyone including the dogs most nights. Secret ingredients in Saturday morning pancakes, apples like he lived on in an orchard in France. Some of Mel’s favorites.

Father, Grandfather or friend, all will feel an everlasting impression left in their life by Mel.

So he will never leave us and we will never be lost.