George D. Fischer

George Drennan Fischer died of a stroke on October 11, 2021, at his farm near Norwalk, Iowa. He was 95 years, 11 months, old. He was born on Des Moines’ east side on November 19, 1925. He attended grade school and junior high in both Des Moines and Tempe, Arizona, due to his father’s ill health. He graduated from East High in 1943, and received his BA degree from UNI. He taught school in Des Moines for over 20 years. At the same time, he farmed 120 acres East of Norwalk, where he built his first house.

Always seeking to improve things wherever he worked, he ran for and became President of the Des Moines Education Association (DMEA), and subsequently was elected to leadership at the state-level Iowa State Education Association (ISEA). Finally, he was elected President of the 3 million-member national teachers’ union, the National Education Association (NEA), in Washington, D.C. At NEA, he became one of three Iowans to make then-President Nixon’s “Enemies List”, of which he was very proud.

After NEA, he moved to Chicago to head up a new experimental classroom teachers’ project called the Educational Facilities Center (EFC). Upon completion of the five year project, he returned to Iowa to farm, build another home, and develop lakeside residential projects (Dutchman’s Landing on Lake Red Rock outside of Pella, and Easter Lake Park on Des Moines’ east side). While farming, he helped start the “No-Till” land conservation farming system, and was considered a pioneer in that movement. He was elected to the East High Hall of Fame.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Chas R. and Naomi Drennan Fischer. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Margaret (“Maggie”) Fischer, his four children, Chas J., Dan J., Drennan L. (Eric Bakker), and Chet F. (Kari) Fischer, and, his beloved grandchildren, Ryan, Winston, and Scarlett.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, November 12th, from 6-8 p.m., at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, IA 50309. A Celebration of George’s Life will be held on Saturday, November 13th at 11:00 a.m., also at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Masks are recommended. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DMEA—George D. Fischer Scholarship Fund, 206 Center St., Des Moines, IA, 50309, or to the Salvation Army.

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