James Paul Fisher, 86, known by friends as JP or Jay, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at UW Hospital, Madison, with his immediate family by his side. His body finally surrendered to a heart attack after battling heart and kidney ailments for many years.

Born in Fond du lac, Wisconsin, on October 25, 1937, to Lorraine and James Fisher, JP was a resident of Elkhorn and then Whitewater, Wisconsin. At age 2 JP was diagnosed with polio. Through daily therapy administered by his mother and grandmother, he overcame this life threatening virus, and with a prognosis of limited use of his arms and legs, rose above to live a vibrant life, including becoming an exceptional athlete.

After graduating from Whitewater City High School, he worked full time for a few years, before enrolling at Wisconsin State College–Whitewater, now UW-Whitewater. With a passion for sports, JP was a four year letterman in both baseball and basketball. During his basketball career, JP became the school’s all-time scorer, a record he held for over 35 years. He was named an NAIA All-American in 1960 and 1961. JP excelled in baseball in his time as a Warhawk. He set records for batting average in 1960 and 1961, and was named a NAIA All-American in 1961.

With these accomplishments, he was inducted into the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977. In 2015, he was also
inducted into WIAC Hall of Fame for these university athletic accomplishments.

After graduating from UW-Whitewater with an education degree, JP taught at Elkhorn High School, in social studies and driver’s education, for over 32 years. He had many interesting stories and experiences in teaching teenagers how to drive, something that gave him great fulfillment. Known as Coach Fish, he coached baseball for 5 years, basketball for over 10 years, and golf for 42 years with both the girls and boys teams. In 2016 he was inducted into the Elkhorn High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

While attending college, he met and later married Karen Anderson. They were married for almost 62 years. Together they raised three children: Mary Kay, Steve, and Scott.

Sports were JP’s life. He loved participating in and watching sports on TV and in person. He enjoyed playing recreational and traveling softball. While coaching the Elkhorn high school golf teams, his teams regularly competed against both of his sons and his daughter, who all played for the Whitewater teams; as well as his wife was the girls’ golf coach. The dinner table was an uncomfortable place to be in the Fisher household during these occasions. JP was an avid golfer. He and his wife led the local
couples’ golf league for many years. Unfortunately, arthritis in his back restricted his ability to play golf later in life. At his alma mater, he worked as a spotter for UW-Whitewater football games for over 50 years, thoroughly enjoying supporting UW-Whitewater athletics.

When he was no longer able to participate in his own sports, he found other ways to occupy his time. He drew and captioned his own cartoons, collected trivia questions and then emceed family events, and organized a family golf outing each summer. He eagerly anticipated regular family card games and even taught his granddaughters how to play Texas Hold-Em.

He is survived by his wife, Karen, his children Mary Kay (Tim) Nelson (Whitewater), Steve (TJ) Fisher (Elkhorn), and Scott (Amy) Fisher (Milton), his grandchildren Kiara and Steph (Dan Schumacher) Nelson, Dayne, Cade, and Jaden Fisher, Cameran and Myla Fisher, and his sister Pam Fisher (Pewaukee).

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dave, and his two sisters Sally Grabowski and Sandy Madsen.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the UW Health University Hospital staff for their compassion and dedication supporting JP in his final days.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held on Monday, July 15, from 4-7pm at the Community Engagement Center, 1260 West Main Street, Whitewater, WI.

In remembrance of JP’s life and love, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Whitewater Food Pantry or
UW-Whitewater Warhawk Athletic General Fund in JP’s memory.