Joan C. Fisher

JOAN CAROL (HElSLEY) FISHER


Joan Carol (Heisley) Fisher, age 75, 400 Ridgecrest Circle, Lewisburg, died at 12:20 a.m. Thursday, August 5, 2010, at her home after a brief illness.
Born in Lock Haven on September 30, 1934, she was the third of four daughters born to the late Rev. Homer William Heisley, a Marysville native and Anna Evelyn (Page)
Hesiley, a native of Duncannon. At the time of her birth, her father was the pastor of
First Evangelical Church, Lock Haven (later named First Evangelical United Brethren
and now First United Methodist).
Joan grew up in Williamsport and attended the Williamsport Public Schools, graduating in 1952. While attending Williamsport High School, she met her future husband, Bruce David Fisher, in 1952, while both served on the Student Executive Committee. He was president of the group and after scolding her for doing homework during meetings, he walked to her home to apologize.
She went on to attend the Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing on a full scholarship
from the Women's Club of Williamsport. She was sponsored for the scholarship by Mrs.
Hoyer, of Hoyer's Photo (who was a prominent member of the club) following the
unexpected death of Joan's father in 1952. She had to maintain high marks to retain her scholarship and could often be found studying hard in the library.
Joan was president of her nursing school class when she graduated in 1955. She remained a registered nurse for 55 years.
During her long career in nursing, she worked at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital,
Wellsboro; Overlook Hospital, Summit, New Jersey; and Centre County Hospital,
Bellefonte while following her husband on his appointments with the Methodist and later the United Methodist Church.
While Bruce was sing as Council Director for the Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the United Methodist in Harrisburg, she was employed as Director of the Paxton
Church Daycare Center, worke a night nurse at a drug treatment center and also was a nanny to two young boys.
When Bruce was appoint as the District Superintendent of the Chambersburg District,
she followed and found work: a Child Care Director at The Fitness Center and also
worked ina butcher shop for som ing a little different.
Joan and Bruce were married on June 18, 1955 in the Morris Methodist Church, one of
five churches on the Morris Circuit, his first charge as a pre-ministerial student at Lycoming College. they honeymooned at Niagara Falls, New York and Canada, returning home only after they had exhausted exactly half of their funds, leaving enough for the trip home.Through their 55 years of marriage, she always supported his ministry and the churches he was serving.
Joan was a loving wife and mother to her five sons and grandchildren. She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. She loved people and hugged all of them and always had a kind word or a ready smile. She will be missed by her community, her church, her family and many friends.
Joan is survived by her husband of 55 years, Rev Dr. Bruce D. Fisher; five sons: David J. Fisher, Etters, Stephen T. Fisher, M.D. and his wife Dianne, Columbus, Ohio, Mark P. Fisher, Bellefonte, Paul C. Fisher and his wife Sylvia, Ft. Worth, Texas, Douglas W. Fisher and his wife Dawn, M.D. Fairfax, Va; 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandaughter. Also, a sister, Barbara Jean Hendl, Erie.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Lyne Maneval, State College and Ruth Anne Strengall, Covena, California.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Wesley United Methodist Church, 3rd and Market Streets, Bloomsburg with the Rev. Jay E. Jones, pastor of the church and the Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Salsgiver, Superintendent of the Lewisburg District officiating.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W Kriner, Inc. Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 325 Market Street, Bloomsburg.