Obituaries : Duane Marvin Fisher

Duane Marvin Fisher passed from this life on March 11th, 2025 following the diagnosis of a rare bone marrow cancer. Duane was born to Marvin and Doris Fisher on November 26th, 1950 in Hampton, Iowa as the eldest of eight siblings. Duane grew up on the family farm near McIntire, Iowa and graduated from Riceville High School in 1969. Duane is remembered for being a genuinely caring big brother and always looking out for his siblings. Following high school, Duane went on to attend Iowa State University where he received his B.S. (1973) and M.S. (1980) in Agricultural Education. During his Iowa State years, Duane was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Zeta, and Phi Kappa Phi. In 1974, Duane married the love of his life, Rebecca Feldt, from St. Ansgar, Iowa.

In 1973, Duane began his long-lasting teaching position as the Vocational Agriculture instructor and FFA advisor in Vinton and then Vinton-Shellsburg School District. Duane retired from teaching in 2010 after 37 years; although no one could say Duane really ever "retired," as he continued helping students achieve their full potential until his passing. He advised on proficiency awards, state and national degrees, and remained active with FFA/4-H judging contests. Duane was a consummate example of the positive and lasting difference teachers can make in the lives of their students.

Duane spent his career as an advocate for agricultural education, genuinely living out the FFA motto of "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, and Living to Serve." In the mid-1980s, he was part of a committee that began the Iowa FFA Foundation. Duane was an annual contributor to the Iowa FFA Foundation for nearly 40 years, and served as an executive sponsor to the National FFA Foundation for nearly 30 years. Since 1973, Duane was an active member of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), including serving as the President in 1997-1998, the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators (IAAE), serving as President from 1984-1985, the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE), serving as Chair from 1996-1997, and the Iowa Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE), serving as President from 1993-1994. He received the NAAE Outstanding Teacher Award in 1992, the NAAE Outstanding Service Award in 2008, and the NAAE Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Duane was also a lifetime member of the FFA Alumni Association and inducted into the Iowa FFA Hall of Fame in 2025. He received the IACTE Life Membership Award in 2011, the Iowa FFA Alumni's Distinguished Achievement Award in 2014, and the Iowa FFA Association's Distinguished Service Award in 2016.

A life-long Iowa State Cyclone fan, Duane was a season ticket holder at Iowa State football games since before Jack Trice Stadium opened in 1975, when games were still played at Clyde Williams Field. He was a Lifetime Member of the Iowa State University Alumni Association and served on their Board of Directors from 2016-2020. Duane spent more than 50 years volunteering with the Benton County 4-H Program; serving as a Superintendent, Board member, and Committee member. He was honored to be inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2016. Duane served on the Benton County Extension Council since first being elected in 2016. He was extremely involved in the local community, including through the Vinton-Shellsburg School Foundation, serving as the Vice President, the Generating Opportunities for Viking Scholars (GoVS) organization, serving as President, and the Vinton City Celebration Committee which helped plan the annual "Party in the Park."

Duane was a faithful believer in Jesus Christ and an active member at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton where he served as Congregational Chairman from 2011-2013 and 2015-2017. He was an avid bowler, and in recent years could be found at Berry's Lanes on Wednesday nights. In his retirement, Duane enjoyed golfing with fellow retired ag teachers and walking on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Barry Klapperich. He is survived by his wife, Becky, and children Andrew Fisher, Charles (Lauren) Fisher, Elizabeth (Brad) White, and his beloved grandchildren, Harrison Fisher White and Eliana Ames White. He is also survived by siblings Vernon (Kathy) Fisher, Donna (Jim) Emerson, Barb (Reid) Klapperich, Bev Klapperich, David (Lisa) Fisher, Connie (John) Holmen, Carol (Wayne) Hicok, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vinton. Friends may visit with the family from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m., Tuesday, at the church. Burial will be in the Mount Auburn Cemetery. A Remembrance gathering will be held at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School on Saturday, March 22nd from 1-4pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local blood bank as Duane benefited from numerous transfusions. Monetary donations may also be made to scholarship programs through the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District Foundation and the Iowa FFA Foundation; please visit their websites to donate.

Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home is caring for Duane and his family.

Condolences may be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.

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