Fisk, Jack D.

Jack D. Fisk, 83, of 322 26th St. NW, Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A visitation will be held in Jack's memory from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Teahen Funeral Home. In respect of Jack's wishes, no funeral service will be held. Private inurnment will be held at a later date.Jack is survived by his wife of 59 years, Arla; son, Jed (Debbie) of Waukee; daughter, Jo Ellen (Dave) Page of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Lizabeth Rand of Victoria, Va.; granddaughters, Carrie and Kelli Fisk, both of West Des Moines; sister, Pauline (Skeets) Colgan of Holly, Mich.; and nieces, nephews and cousins.His parents; three brothers, Larry, Raymond and Ronald; and niece, Donna Waddell, preceded Jack in death.Jack was born on Sept. 25, 1926, in Cincinnati, Iowa, the son of Harold Bo and Marie Magdalene Schippers Fisk. He grew up on a farm outside of Pella, Iowa. After attending a country school through the eighth grade, he helped his parents on the farm for a year. The following year, he moved to town to attend Pella High School, where he played football, basketball and track. Jack also got a job at a cafe in town, working before and after school in order to pay his room and board.Jack enlisted in the Navy as a 17 year old and, from 1944 to 1946, he served in the Pacific aboard the U.S.S. MacDonough, a destroyer. After the war, he returned to Pella to finish high school. Jack attended the University of Northern Iowa (formerly ISTC), where he met Arla Dickinson. They married in 1951, also the year that he received his bachelor's degree (followed by a master's degree from University of Iowa in 1960). Jack taught and coached at Waverly, Anamosa and Ottumwa High Schools before coming to Cedar Rapids Jefferson in 1962. He was head wrestling coach for three seasons, with his 1965 team taking second place at the state tournament. Jack finished his wrestling career at Jefferson after the 1966 season, compiling a 35-5 record.He coached football at Jefferson for 16 years, achieving a record of 112 wins and only 36 defeats and two ties. His best season was in 1972, when the J-Hawks went 11-0, were MVC champions, and won the first state playoffs. Jack was the Des Moines Register 1972 Coach-of-the-Year and was inducted into the Iowa High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. In 1973, he was selected to be head coach in the first Shrine game. Jack had a long-standing relationship with the Iowa Football Coaches Association and was president of the IFCA in 1972.Jack retired from Jefferson in 1993. In his retirement years, he loved going to auctions, selling antiques at flea markets, gardening and attending Monday morning coffee club at Hy-Vee. Jack was a member of St. James United Methodist Church for 48 years and belonged to the Swisher American Legion. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family. He was loved by his family and friends and will be deeply missed.The family would like to extend a warm thank you to Doctor Cearlock, the staff of Mercy Hospital and the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, who took such good care of Jack in the final weeks of his life. Without exception, every person who contributed to his care was kind, caring and compassionate.Instead of flowers, the family requests memorials are made to St. James United Methodist Church or the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy.Online condolences may be left for the family at