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Mary Jane Voll Fisher died on Sunday, June 17, 2018, in her home following an extended illness.

The sixth of eleven children, Mary was born on August 28, 1954, to William and Virginia Voll in South Bend, Indiana. Mary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1977. That summer and the next, Mary worked as Camp Nurse for St. Theresa’s Summer Camp, Soldotna, Alaska.

For two years and between camp assignments, Mary was employed as a registered nurse on the medical-surgical floor at St. Louis Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In 1979, she relocated to California where she earned a Masters degree in Public Health Education from California State University, Northridge. From 1983 to1989, Mary worked at Encino Hospital, Encino, California, and from 1989 to1993, she was employed at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital, Simi Valley, California, where she was also president of the Simi Valley Society of Gastrointestinal Nurses and Associates (SGNA).

Mary married Ken Fisher, the love of her life, on August 18, 1984. In 1993, Mary, Ken and their two young sons moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Mary worked as a home health nurse while Ken, a cardiology registered nurse, returned to school to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Upon graduation, Ken accepted a CRNA position with West Shore Medical Center (now Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital) in Manistee, Michigan. Ken and Mary moved their family to nearby Onekama, Michigan, and Mary continued working in home health nursing for the next few years. From 1997 to 2016, Mary taught clinical nursing classes at West Shore Community College. During this time, she also worked per diem at the hospital.

Mary was an active member of the community. She served on the board of the Onekama Consolidated Schools and on the board of a healthcare clinic for migrant workers. She volunteered at the free clinic in Manistee and was a member of 100 Women Who Care, an organization dedicated to fundraising in support of local non-profit agencies.

Mary had many passions, one of which was education. She pursued education for herself and her family. She had the heart of a teacher and was always encouraging and motivating others to learn and to increase their skills in order to improve their opportunities. Further passions included her horses, buying and rehabilitating neglected houses, and travel. Mary traveled extensively in the United States and overseas. She found travel to be great adventure and greatly educational.

In 2007, Mary was diagnosed with nontuberculous mycobacteria abscessus (NTM), a little known and barely understood infection that embedded in her lungs and for which there is no cure. She courageously battled this disease while advocating for more research and development. Mary participated on an FDA Advisory Panel in Washington, D.C. She also spoke before a pharmaceutical advisory panel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on behalf of NTM patients and medical practitioners.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, William and Virgina Voll. She is survived by her husband, Ken, and two sons, David Fisher of Wixom, Michigan, and Aaron (Rachel) Fisher of Columbus, Georgia. She is survived also by five sisters and five brothers, numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
According to her wishes, Mary was cremated. Visitation with the family will be held at the Oak Grove Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 309 Parkdale Avenue, Manistee, Michigan, on July 14, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A memorial service will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: NTMir (Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria Information and Research), 1550 Madruga Avenue, Suite 230, Coral Gables, Florida 33146. Tel. 305-667-6461, ext. 26.

The family expresses gratitude to the staff at National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, the staff at Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Manistee, Michigan, and Munson Healthcare Hospice, Cadillac, Michigan, for their compassionate care and attention. The family also thanks the many wonderful friends who were most helpful and supportive during this difficult time.

Condolences for the family may be made at www.oakgrovefh.com

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