Jack Fish Memorial Scholarship

John “Jack” Fish, 92, of Baxter, passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon, September 8, 2023.

Born in Trommald, Minnesota, on December 13, 1930, Jack was the son of the late Hubert Fish and Faye (Hunter) Fish. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 69 years, Meryl (Dixon) Fish of Baxter, MN; brother Bill Fish (Joanne) of Big Lake, MN; son Dan Fish (Diane) of Sartell, MN; daughter Dianne Pikula (Bruce) of St. Paul, MN; daughter Nancy Posl (Jim) of Andover, MN; daughter Lori Fish (Greg Stock) of Boise, ID; daughter Jane Fish of Horseshoe Bend, ID; daughter Mary Fish (Craig Cook) of Boise, ID; grandchildren Paul Fish, Miranda Fish, Elizabeth (Pikula) Boyles, Katherine Pikula, Sam Posl, Ben Posl, Jake Posl, Sadie Stock, Catie Welsh, Hunter Tharpe, Alice Tharpe, Zach Cook and Scott Cook; grandsons-in-law Thomas Boyles and Patrick Welsh; granddaughters-in-law Michelle Fish, Jana Posl and Marisa Cook; and great-grandchildren Lewis Welsh, Elizabeth Welsh, and Finn Cook. He is preceded in death by older brother Dick Fish, identical twin brother Jim Fish, and younger sister Mitzi Koop.

Jack attended Crosby-Ironton High School where he graduated in 1948. After high school, Jack spent two years in the National Guard 194th Tank Battalion and then enlisted in the Air Force where he served as a tail-gunner (T/Sgt) in B-29 and B-50 aircraft. He was stationed in Roswell NM, Seattle WA, Tampa FL, England, and Guam.

After military service, Jack received his bachelor’s degree from the St. Cloud Teacher’s College (now St. Cloud State University) in St. Cloud, MN, which is also where he met his future wife, Meryl. The two were married on June 21, 1954, and moved to Brainerd in 1955. Jack taught 8th grade Geography and later 7th grade Science at Franklin Junior High in Brainerd for 13 years and then took over as assistant principal for five years. He then took two years off to attended Winona State University in Winona, MN, where he received masters and specialist degrees in education administration. Upon finishing his graduate work, Jack became principal at the Washington Junior High School in Brainerd until 1983, when he was named principal at Franklin Junior High. He retired from his career in education in 1985, and spent many happy years golfing, traveling, hunting, fishing, playing cribbage, and enjoying his family.

Jack contributed wholeheartedly to his community as a volunteer. He served on the Crow Wing County Fair Board, the local cable TV Board for 25 years, the committee to select Citizen of the Year, as a member and past president of the Exchange Club, as a Day Break volunteer, and as a longstanding Senior Warden at his church. He was also a longtime member of American Legion Post 255.

Jack will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather; as an educator, storyteller, hunter, golfer, fisherman, and cribbage player; as someone who loved chocolate, ice cream, and joking with his doctors, nurses, and neighbors; and as a member of “the greatest generation”.

The family wishes to thank the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center and Home Instead in-home senior care, for all their assistance to Jack. Additional thanks go out to St. Joseph’s Hospital 6th floor staff for their kindness and compassion in his final days.