FISCHER, David William

June 11, 1943 — July 4, 2026

David William Fischer “Dave” was born on June 11, 1943, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where he was raised and spent much of his life, and he passed away on July 4, 2026, with family by his side. He was the beloved husband of Carol Fischer (née Betton) devoted father of Terry (Kathryn), Kevin (Tracey), and Dean (Robyn), and proud grandfather of Courtney, Connor, Cameron, Kyle, Lainey, and Reese.

David was the son of Frederick Fischer (1903–1991) and Olga Fischer (née Dalchau) (1909-1982), both immigrants who built new lives in Canada. His father, Frederick, immigrated from Germany with his parents in 1927, while his mother, Olga, immigrated alone from Lithuania in 1928, where they met and married in Medicine Hat. David grew up alongside his older brother, Elmer (1933–2000).

From a young age, David loved to stay busy in both work and play. As a young boy, he worked on a farm near Vauxhall. He was also a Royal Canadian Air Cadet and spent a summer at a RCAC camp on Sea Island, BC in 1958. David treasured his time spent at the family’s cabin in Elkwater in the summers and he excelled in athletics, particularly track and field, table tennis, skiing, and golf—interests that would remain lifelong passions.

David met his wife Carol while attending High School and offering her a ride home in his blue 1955 Ford. When Carol’s parents asked who dropped her off, Carol famously replied, “Some jerk with a nice car” – a story that would be retold for decades.  After graduating from Medicine Hat High School in 1961, David attended SAIT in Calgary, where he earned his Sheet Metal certification to start his apprenticeship. After two years, he moved home and married Carol in October of 1964, beginning a marriage that would span more than six decades. Together they built a life grounded in hard work, adventure, and family.

Once home, David began working, receiving his Journeyman ticket and became an owner with his brother in Fischer’s Plumbing and Heating, founded by their father. Together they operated the company until the early 1980s. During this time, he was also an active member of both the Kinsmen and the Shriners and played the bugle in the Shriner’s marching band.

David was one of the fifty founding members of Cypress Skiers Association who helped develop and maintain the Mile High Ski Area in the Cypress Hills in the 1960s. As the hill evolved into Elkwater Ski Hill, David became the area manager in the early 1980s before eventually assuming ownership when the operation was privatized in 1987. Under his leadership, and working alongside his sons, the ski area expanded into what is now known today as Hidden Valley Ski Resort, that fostered a wonderful community of close friends and local ski-enthusiasts. In 1998, he proudly sold the business to his three sons who continued to operate it for several years.

During this time, David also started and was co-owner of Tot-em Transportation in 1984. Under his leadership, and again, working alongside his sons, the company held the contract for all of Medicine Hat’s school bus operations for more than 20 years and, in 1994, expanded into the charter and tour bus industry with a fleet of meticulous, high-end motorcoaches. David retired and sold Tot-em Transportation in 2004. Under new ownership, the company was renamed and continues to operate today as Traxx Coachlines.

While David enjoyed many professional accomplishments, his greatest happiness was with family. In 1991, David and Carol bought lake-front property, and together, the family built a cottage on Thompson Island on Lake of the Woods, near Kenora, Ontario, where they had spent countless summers before. For the next twenty-one years, the cottage became the heart of countless Fischer family summers. Dave would always start with an early morning coffee on the dock, while the rest of the family would join him at a slightly more civil hour. The days were filled with boat trips down the lake, waterskiing, fishing, canoe races around the island, golf trips to Falcon Lake, visiting with countless friends and family, and he always needed time to head into town for chip truck and wood stain… and perhaps the occasional unexpected discovery of Canadian shield with the boat’s propeller. Evenings consisting of cribbage, backgammon, watching old movies, and David rarely missed an episode of MASH or The National if the rabbit ears could pick it up. Those summers created memories that are second to none and will be treasured by all that were part of it.

Starting in the late 90s, during the winters, David and Carol made their home in Sun City, Arizona. There, David and Carol had a busy social life. David played golf nearly every day and was a volunteer Course Marshall at several PGA events. It was in Sun City where David discovered another passion—creating segmented wooden bowls. True to his meticulous nature, he immersed himself in mastering the craft, eventually becoming the local expert and generously teaching others. Over the years, he created nearly forty remarkable works of art, each reflecting the precision and attention to detail for which he was known. Later, as his eyesight gradually declined, he reluctantly put away both his golf clubs and woodworking tools before they sold their Arizona home in 2020.

In 2015, David and Carol sold their Medicine Hat home and moved home-base to Kelowna, British Columbia, where they could enjoy the remainder of their retirement with good scenery and good climate.

Anyone who knew David knew he appreciated things done properly. He was meticulous, exceptionally organized, impeccably dressed, and possessed a level of attention to detail that few could match. He’s been called, particular, impatient, and a perfectionist, but those traits were paired with an unwavering work ethic, quiet generosity, and deep pride in everything he undertook. Whether building a bus company, operating a snow-cat, crafting a wooden bowl, helping restore an old Chris-Craft, or helping someone build their deck, or tiling their backsplash, David believed that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right.

Above all else, David’s greatest pride was his family. His love for Carol was the foundation of his life, and together they created a family rich in memories, traditions, and enduring values. His legacy lives on not only in his businesses but in his family and friends who knew him best.

In accordance with David’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral or memorial service. Instead, his family will gather privately to celebrate a life well lived.

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