Roger C. Fister, 88

Published 10:24 am Monday, January 4, 2016

Roger C. Fister departed this life on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. He was born on May 3, 1927, in Oakdale Township within Howard County, Iowa, to Casper and Mary (Jones) Fister.

Fister

At age 17, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed with the SeaBees in China during World War II. He earned his high school diploma by gaining credits for the completion of boot camp as he readied himself to serve the country he so dearly loved. He returned to LeRoy after the war, winked at a certain young woman, and he and Pauline (Hatlestad) married on June 27, 1948, marking the beginning of a beautiful marriage that lasted 67 years. Their daughter Rhonda (Newton) was born in 1949, making their family complete.

Roger gained employment in the U.S. Postal Service, eventually retiring after years of serving as postmaster in LeRoy. He was an active member of the community and was known throughout. Roger served as secretary for the Masonic Lodge for 50 years and was a proud member of the American Legion for 70. Roger and Pauline attended church services each Sunday, serving generously throughout the years. He was a man of rare and great integrity, lived life to the fullest, and always had a smile and a kind word for those he met. Roger will be remembered for his many special qualities, including his quick wit, the ever-present twinkle in his eyes, and his generous nature. He loved his family with great depth, and they mirror that love in return.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents.

He leaves Pauline, his loving wife; daughter and son-in-law Rhonda and Daniel Newton of LeRoy, Minnesota; brother Sidney (Martha) Fister of Lyle, Minnesota; sister MaryLou (Louis) Hungerford of LeRoy, Minnesota; three grandchildren: Jennifer (Colin) Boysen of Rochester, Minnesota, Jessica (Andy) Elofson of St. Peter, Minnesota, Christopher Newton (Kristen Leiferman) of North Branch, Minnesota; and five great-grandchildren: Nicholas, Ashley, Emma, Madeline, and Olivia.

A funeral celebrating the life of Roger C. Fister will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. at the LeRoy Evangelical Lutheran Church in LeRoy, Minnesota. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and on Wednesday one hour prior to the funeral service. Memorials preferred to LeRoy Evangelical Lutheran Church or American Legion Post No. 161. Condolences may be left online at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com.