Bill Fisher

W illiam L e R oy F isher (also known as Billy, Bubba, Blondie, Bobo, Happy and Ghost Dog) departed this world Saturday morning, May 3,2025, just like he came into it, livin' to run and runnin' to live against the wind.

Bill was born to Chas (Robert) and Margaret Fisher December 14, 1950, at the Memorial Hospital in North Platte weighing in at a very wiggly 7 lbs. By the time he was 2 he had fallen in the horse tank (saved by his Aunt Gladys), drank kerosene (dr. ordered a big glass of milk), and managed to get his arm caught in a wringer washer! A short time later he was blessed with twin siblings, Marvin and Marylin. Triple the fun now. He held fond memories of taking naps under a tree with his dog at his Grandpa Korbel's farm.

His youth was spent riding bikes, picking fights with kids, then volunteering his sister Marylin to finish the fight and he had mischievous adventures with his brother Marvin. He had to wear a leg brace (from hip to ankle) for a while, but that didn't stop him. He climbed trees and outran his teachers trying to get him back in class. He was very proud of that.

His teen years were spent working alongside Marvin doing farm work around Hershey. Once he had money of his own, his love of having a little too much fun kick started. Barefoot waterskiing, hunting, fishing and driving around with his friend, Leroy Hernandez, chasing girls, smoking cigarettes and a love of antagonizing Sheriff Lightfritz were just the warm-up. But he did become a boy scout with Marvin!

At the age of 16, Bill decided he had had enough of school and headed out for Pearsall, Texas. There he embraced his love of Mexican food, especially Menudo, stating best cure for a hangover. He worked construction and came back to Nebraska doing a fast driveway slide, in a hot Canary Yellow Camero; wearing a halfcocked big black cowboy hat almost as big as his new swagger.

Back on his stomping grounds, he worked for various ranches and farms and a short stint with UPRR. He convinced his cousin, Donnie Younghans, to try rodeoing and attended Hershey Fall Festival religiously, never missing a chance to drink a beer with Kelly Sitner. A wild hair to buy a jeep, so he could tear up some country roads, resulted in a deep 9-inch gap on the top of head when he rolled it. He became quite the charmer as old love letters have confirmed. He spent time in California hanging out with his sister's family, becoming Uncle Bobo to his nephew, Nathan.

At the age of 43, with support of his mom, he committed to sobriety and remained sober for the rest of his life.  And his life changed.  3 years later he was brave enough to woe Susan Kennedy and another whirlwind of fun, fights and family began. This included stock car races (cried when Dale Ernhardt died), casinos (he was damn lucky}, trips to fly fish in Wyoming and Montana, Fisher get togethers, playing pitch, and a lot of George Strait sing-a longs which sometimes prompted dancing in the kitchen.

A trip to Deadwood on a bus with the majority being widow ladies, he charmed them into telling him their gambling strategy. He enjoyed stopping to tease Kaye Monie at Hershey Bank and appreciated Melissa Gonzalez at Centris teaching the girls how to take care of his business. Winning 1st place with Jay Wonch at a Lake Maloney walleye tournament was a major thrill for him.

He became an amazing, loving and protective Dad to Susan's daughter, Carlee, teaching her how to drive and once chased her boyfriend off down the alley.  Delighted in showing Carlee, who he nicknamed "The Kid" how to set off M-80's under a coffee can, which then hit the neighbor's roof and sent him running to hide in the closet when the cops showed up. He attempted to teach her to country dance, complaining she was too stiff. Challenging her to leg wrestle and boxing resulted in him crying STOP.

When the age of 50 crept around Bill informed Susan, he thought he should get married, no thought of a traditional proposal. And of course, she said, " OK."  Those mischievous eyes and devilish grin were too hard to resist. They were married November 29, 2003. The preacher told Bill if he treated Susan like a thoroughbred she would never turn into a nag. Bill replied, "but she's built like a quarter horse". His new father-in-law, Tom Kennedy, thought it was hilarious.

They bought an old house in Maxwell and Susan roped him into remodeling for the next 10 years. Working out of town for Snell Services, weekends remodeling interfered with pheasant hunting and fishing. He conned Susan into raising German Wirehair dogs and the diversion worked. Hunting was back on, and Susan loved his dogs. As a married man, Bill's escapades didn't stop. One cold and snowy Christmas eve, out pheasant hunting, his dog jumped into the canal to retrieve and couldn't get out, so Bill jumped in to save his dog. The current was strong and wet hunting clothes nearly took him down. No big deal he said, I got the bird too. After that near miss, he shot out the gas meter with his compound bow practicing his aim and was totally appalled at the $300 repair the gas company charged him.

Bill succeeded in being a good husband to Susan, he tolerated her demanding job at Starbucks, took a fancy for lattes, brought her flowers and embraced her family and friends. They were each other's shelter from the wind.

Bill loved his dogs and had them throughout his life. His last dog, Mary, was so loved that Bill bought a king-size bed, without telling Susan, just so Mary could sleep with him. Dale Earnhardt was his hero, and George Strait was his singing partner, Bill's part was choruses only at the top of his lungs.

Bill retired in 2017, helped friends and family, indulged in scratch tickets and hunted to his heart's content. He considered starting a lawn mowing business with the business name "You Grow It I'll Mow It" but that interfered with fishing.  His health began to decline in 2023, and he faced it his way and only his way till the end.

He loved his family fiercely and was so proud to be called uncle by his nephews and niece Jeffrey, Nathan, Ryan and Libby. He was blessed to see the additions of his great nieces, Elleigh, Neeva, and Parker, and nephews, Foster and Atticus. The arrival of his granddaughter, Wylee was the icing on the cake - She gave her opinion to him frequently and he loved showing her his world.

The Snell Service boys, Chad the Man, and a host of friends were his delight. He enjoyed conversations and was a great storyteller. He left is mark upon this world, just the way he wanted, with stubborn gritty courage and the love of living life to its fullest.  Every role he took on was with his own flavor and attitude.  He believed his life would end with a comma not a period. He's at peace now, relishing in reunion with his many dogs, heaven's hunting grounds, and casting a fly on those beautiful rushing rivers.

Bill was greeted at the gates by his best friend and brother, Marvin and wife, Cindy Fisher; parents, Chas and Margaret Fisher; and his beloved grandparents, Bill and Helen Korbel and Lydia and Dent Fisher.

Left to carry on is his wife, Susan; daughter, Carlee Cochran and Ted Simmons; granddaughter, Wylee Simmons; his sister, Marylin and Charlie Bicak; nephews, Jeffrey and Keri Fisher and their daughters, Elleigh and Neeva Fisher, Ryan Fisher, Nathan and Jaci Bicak and their children, Parker and Foster Bicak; his niece Libby Bicak and Will Holmes and their son, Atticus Holmes; plus a whole lot of cousins, aunts, Susan's family and an unmeasurable number of friends.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Hershey American Legion Hall at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 17, please come ready to share a story or favorite memory.

The guest book may be signed at the service, online at odeanchapel.com, or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  Because of his great love of animals, especially dogs, memorials are to Fur Animal Rescue in North Platte and can be at: https://www.northplattegiving.org/organization/furanimalrescue