The Garden City Telegram
NEW E-Edition!
Subscription
Required
Add Your Comment | Read (10) Comments
Patricia G. Fishback
Published 3/16/2013 in Obituaries
Custom obituary
Patricia G. Fishback, 82, of Garden City, Kansas, died Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at Homestead Health & Rehabilitation Center in Garden City, Kansas. She was born February 17, 1931, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the daughter of Lester and Geneva (Ferry) Glover.
Pat is a graduate of Hutchinson High School and the University of Kansas with a B.S. Degree in Education. She taught first grade in Ottawa and Wichita, Kansas, before moving to Garden City in 1957. On May 18, 1952, she married James E. Fishback in Hutchinson, Kansas. Jim was a long time employee of Meschke's Men's and Boy's Wear and also Finley's Men's Wear.
In 1959, Pat established the Fishback Pre-School to accommodate six children plus two of her own. The business grew to an enrollment of one hundred and twenty children per year. After accumulating forty-three years of hugs and special times with little children, she sold the business and retired in 2002.
The most special of the children she taught are her own: Dr. James Fishback of Leawood, Kansas, Julie Kirchoff of Garden City, Kansas, and John Fishback of Springfield, Missouri. Pat is also the proud grandmother of three and great-grandmother of five. She is also survived by a sister, Barbara Witt of Russell, Kansas. Pat is preceded in death by her parents and her husband James, who died on September 17, 2011.
An active volunteer in community activities, Pat served twelve years on the USD 457 Board of Education; was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Garden City, where she taught Sunday School, as well as served on the building addition committee; was a 4-H community leader and cub-scout den mother. She is a long time member of the Finney County Historical Society Board of Directors, a member of the Landmarks Commission of Garden City, and she served on the boards of the Finney County Public Library, The Friends of the Library and the Finney County Preservation Alliance. Pat also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Association of School Boards, and she was a past president of the Alta Brown PTA. In her spare time, Pat enjoyed reading, cooking, attending and watching all kinds of ball games, historical research, and her grandchildren.
Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2013, at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Mt. Hope, Kansas, with the Rev. Jerry Nolte officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City, Kansas. The family requests memorials given to the Finney County Public Library for children's books or to the Finney County Historical Society, both in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N. 7th St., Garden City, KS 67846. Condolences may be emailed to garnandfh@sbcglobal.net.
Found 10 comment(s)!
Thanks
To the Fishback family- your mom was my Pre-K teacher in the early 1970's. As a child of educators, I was blessed to have your mom in my life and regularly thought about how she influenced my life. She was a great person and will be missed by my entire family. Thoughts and prayers are with you, she created some great memories for me!
Posted by: Stacy Graff on 3/21/2013
Mrs Fishback
Julie, I just wanted you to know how sorry I am for your mothers passing. She was a wonderful Woman. I had the pleasure of attending her preschool as a child. I have many fond memories of that. There were many times that I was involved in sports activities she would let me pull weeds to earn money for tournaments. Only went to the timeout chair a few times. She will be greatly missed.
Sincerely,
Barbara Kester-Olson
Posted by: Barb Kester Olson on 3/21/2013
sympathy to the Fishback family
It was a shock when Ken called me about your mother today. I had a late Christmas card from her and was writing her a letter this week to tell her our news and about Alison's marriage in July. She was always so good to watch over mother when it was needed. I will miss her and am sorry I didn't know she was in rehab at this time. Please accept my whole family's condolences as well as our great appreciation for her fiendship with mother over the years. Friendship is a priceless thing.
Peggy/Hal, Andrew/ Zlatka, Anne/Tovio, Mesepa/Oliver/Tailua Petelo, Alison/Galin Ivanoff.
Posted by: peggy schmidt on 3/17/2013
A Special Friend
Pat was such a great teacher and friend to all who attended her preschool. She was also a great friend to her neighbor, my mother in law, Beatrice Wasson. She gave Mom so much help and was always there for whatever Mom needed.
Posted by: Fredys Wasson on 3/17/2013
Condolences
Mrs. Fishback was pre-school teacher. She will be missed by many. Prayers to the families.
Posted by: Brandy Seidel on 3/17/2013
Grandma Bea's Neighbor
I'll always remember Pat as Grandma's sweet neighbor and friend. We always loved to see Her at the door or go over and say hi. She always loved to hear from us. So sorry for your loss.
Posted by: Rene Wasson McCracken on 3/17/2013
My memories of Pat Fishback
I have many fond memories of Pat from my hunting trips to Garden City with her son Jim Fishback who I met during his years in medical school. She was a warm and gracious hostess who made me feel welcome and treated me like a member of the family. After our hunts we always had delightful conversations with Pat and her husband Jim. She was very knowledgeable about current affairs and clearly loved children. She was also very proud of the accomplishments of her children, and rightly so. She always made the world brighter for the people who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be missed.
Posted by: Lynwood Yarbrough on 3/17/2013
Condolences
Jim, Julie, and families, I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers to you.
Posted by: Donna Zirkel Batt on 3/16/2013
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted by: Butch Batman on 3/16/2013
Condolences
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Julie and the rest of Pat's family and fiends. She will be missed by so many and remembered as a wonderful teacher and friend to all. God bless.
Posted by: Tom and Ann Troy on 3/16/2013