Karalee K. Fisher

Karalee Kay (Larson) Fisher, 67, of Silver Lake, KS, joyfully entered the presence of her Savior on August 30, 2020, at her home surrounded by her family. Karalee was born January 5, 1953, in Washington, KS. The oldest of Thaine and Norma (McDowell) Larson’s children, she and her siblings Jan, Galen, and Lea grew up on a farm in Smith County, KS, between Athol and Kensington. They were raised to value family and working with their hands; to love sewing and music; and to see lack as a challenge in creativity. Karalee was active in church and 4-H, and she played piano, saxophone and bassoon. Karalee graduated from Kensington High School in 1971. She earned a B.S. in speech communications and human relations from Kansas University (1975), then completed a graduate course at Multnomah School of the Bible (1976).

In 1978, while Karalee was living in Topeka and working for chiropractor “Doc” Sullivant, one day the office refrigerator broke down. So, Doc took her lunch over to the fridge at the “bachelors’ quarters.” At lunchtime, he was busy and sent Karalee to retrieve it. When she knocked and asked for her lunch, John Fisher (who was working 3-11 at the time) was making his own lunch and asked if she’d like to stay and eat together. By the time she got back to the office, she didn’t know what day it was or what her name was. She was smitten. John and Karalee were married on September 22, 1979. They were blessed with eight children: Laurel, Christian, Lars, Addie, Allegra, Isaac, Peder, and Charis. Karalee’s heart was for the world, and her vision was to raise world changers. As each child graduated high school, her goal was to help them go (if not go with them) on a short-term trip to serve somewhere in the world. Karalee served on a number of overseas short-term trips, as well.

John and Karalee were married for over 40 years. They made their home in Topeka for 19 years, then Perry for 19 years, before returning to Topeka in 2018. John worked extra jobs at times so Karalee could be a full-time, stay-at-home mom – for nearly two decades. She and John homeschooled their oldest three through high school. The youngest five got to experience a combination of home, private and public school. Alongside them, Karalee worked as a teacher in a private Christian school, as well as a substitute teacher and para in the Perry-Lecompton school district. As the kids got older, Karalee worked various part-time jobs, including at Hillmer’s Luggage, Leather and Gifts (along with several of her kids); at Hancock Fabrics (to support her sewing habit); teaching sewing and quilting at the juvenile correctional facility in Topeka; and as a representative for World Heritage, placing exchange students with host families – including her own. The Fishers opened their home and hearts to six exchange students. Later on, it was Karalee’s joy to invest her days in helping care for grandchildren.

Through the years, she also did numerous custom sewing jobs. She taught all her daughters (and all her sons who were willing) to sew. She especially loved quilting, particularly scrap quilts, and made treasured quilts for each of her children and grandchildren.

Karalee was active in her home church, Williamstown Assembly of God. She coached Bible Quiz, served on the church board, taught adult Sunday School class, and had a special heart for women’s jail ministry. Recently, Karalee also served on the pastoral care team of All Nations KC and went on several short-term trips to encourage those serving on the field.

Karalee began each day with her Bible and her coffee. Occasionally, she’d doze off and then wake up with a jolt because she’d spilled coffee on herself. She typically read a book a week and gravitated to books on prayer, health and self-help. Karalee was known to ask questions like, “Have you prayed about it?” and “Will it matter in eternity?” She also loved to walk, and really missed that toward the end of her life. Now, she is able to “stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy” (Jude 24).

Karalee was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, John, of the home; her sister Jan (Jay) Smith, of Elgin, IL; brother Galen (Arleta) Larson, of Athol, KS; and sister Lea (J.D. II) Norcross, of Champaign, IL. Karalee and John’s  legacy includes daughter Laurel (Terence) Harris, of Topeka, KS; son Christian (Cheryl) Fisher, of Spartanburg, SC; son Lars (Christy) Fisher, of Silver Lake, KS; daughter Addie (David) Juedes, of Topeka, KS; daughter Allegra Fisher, of New York, NY; son Isaac Fisher, of Fort Collins, CO; son Peder (Katarina) Fisher, of Auburn, KS; daughter Charis Fisher, of Baltimore, MD; fifteen grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Karalee was practical and always preferred the fabric store’s old pattern books over flowers. In lieu of flowers, she asked memorial gifts be given to Williamstown Assembly of God ( williamstownag.org ), or to All Nations KC ( allnations.us ). Gifts, marked “in honor of Karalee Fisher,” may be sent care of Davidson Funeral Home, 1035 N. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66608 ( davidsonfuneral.com ).

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, September 5, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at Fellowship Bible Church, 6800 SW 10 ^th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas (fbctopeka.com). The service will be live-streamed at the Davidson Funeral Home & Cremation Services Facebook page. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. before the service at the church.  Interment will be Sunday, September 6, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at Pleasant View Cemetery, 160 Road and J Road, Athol, Smith County, Kansas.