Jean M. Fisher

May 9, 1922 — August 25, 2016

Jean M. Fisher, 94, died peacefully on Thursday, August 25th, 2016, following a stroke. She was born Jean Muriel Kanters, May 9th, 1922 to Lloyd and Grace Davis Kanters in Waukesha, WI. She grew up during the Depression, in a loving family with her sister and four brothers. She graduated from Waukesha High School in 1939 and Michigan State University in 1943 with a degree in Business Administration. She began her career with Remington Rand Corporation, working with early mechanical computer office records systems. Wanting to do her part for the war effort, she became a civilian worker in the Army Signal Corps. Stationed in Arlington Virginia she worked decoding intercepted Japanese messages. At the end of the war, she returned to her job at Remington Rand in Chicago.
There she met Gordon Utes. They were married in September 1947 at St Matthias, Waukesha. They continued to live in Chicago for several years, but in early 1951, they moved to Park Forest. Park Forest was one of the first planned suburban communities in the nation, making housing available for the many returning GI’s. There they raised their two daughters, Mary and Anne. Jean and Gordon were very active at Holy Family Episcopal Church. Gordon died in January 1969. Jean continued to live in Park Forest until Anne graduated high school. She then moved back to Wisconsin to be near her brothers, and built a house near Dousman.
In 1984 she married Robert Fisher, a former neighbor from Park Forest who had also been widowed. Jean and Bob settled in the Mountain Home, AR area, where Bob had previously retired. In 2002 they moved to Delavan, WI to be closer to their children. In 2011 they moved to Sheboygan, where Bob died in 2013.
Family was very important to Jean and she loved "having everyone together". She was very proud of her family and loved showing off pictures of her five great grand daughters. In her younger years she loved to entertain. There were many holiday celebrations and "cook outs" with family and friends. Her claim to fame was eating 14 ears of corn at one cook out, which she often reminded us of. There was always homemade bread, and something being knit or in progress on the sewing machine. She had a great sense of humor and loved to joke around. Her faith was also very important and although she lived in many places, she was always devoted to her church. Over her lifetime, many hours were spent on alter guilds, prayer groups and Christmas pageants. Jean will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, sister and friend and will be missed by many.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Mary and Ed Clabots and Anne and Greg LaPlante, and her grandchildren Christine Clabots (Matthieu Permentier), Sarah Clabots–Kim (Keun Hwan Kim), John Clabots (Meg), Kyle LaPlante (friend Natalie Deutsch), and Amanda Toussaint (Brad), and great grand daughters Eleanor and Isabelle Permentier, Sidonia and Beatrice Kim and Lily Toussaint. Jean is also survived by her brother Robert Kanters, sisters in law Eileen Kanters and MaeJean Kanters and Gordon’s brother Warren Utes, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Bob’s children Carol (Lloyd) Rose, Joan (Gary) Mather and Robert (Kathy) Fisher and step grandchildren, Mark Rose, Jenny Mather, Steve (Karen) Mather, and Kelly Fisher.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gordon Utes and their infant daughter, her husband Robert Fisher, her sister & brother in law Ruth & Les Tyrrell, brother & sister in law John & Virginia Kanters, brothers Bill and Roger Kanters, and step grandchild, Stephanie Fisher.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday September 3rd, 2016 at 11am at Grace Episcopal Church, Seventh and Ontario, Sheboygan, with The Reverend Dr. Karl C Schaffenburg celebrating. Friends may call at the church from 10 am until the time of the service. Burial will follow in the parish columbarium.
Jean’s family would like to thank Dr Warren Brauer, Dr Robert Horth, the staff of Terrace Place (her home for the last five years), as well as the staff of St Nicholas Home Health and Hospice. Their loving care of Jean is much appreciated.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church and St Nicholas Home Health and Hospice.

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