A graduate in the Purdue DVM Class of 1969 has passed away. The College of Veterinary Medicine is saddened to learn that Dr. Douglas E. Fisher, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died December 23, 2022. He was 77.
Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Dr. Fisher enrolled at Purdue University in 1965 to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian who focused on large animals. While in veterinary school, he lived off campus on a small farm with his horse. After earning his DVM degree, he initially worked at equine hospitals in Niles, Michigan and Lima, Ohio before moving to New York in 1971 to be the veterinarian at the prestigious Belmont Park thoroughbred racetrack. He later returned to the Fort Wayne area and worked at a veterinary practice in Churubusco before starting a mobile veterinary practice that grew extensively in northeastern Indiana.
Dr. Fisher also served as the official veterinarian of such programs and events as the Allen County and Whitley County 4-H programs, the Shrine Circus when it performed at the War Memorial Coliseum, regional rodeos, and many other equine sporting events. Additionally, he helped with challenging cases at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, caring for a variety of species including bison, zebra, giraffe, camels, elephants, parrots, and even a tortoise. At rodeos, he was known to treat fierce bulls and broncs.
Regarded as a very giving person, Dr. Fisher supported a variety of philanthropic and charitable causes and placed high importance on his family and faith. In keeping with his philosophy of caring for people and being good stewards of the earth, he was a member of many organizations around the state and in his home community, including the ACRES Land Trust, the Isaac Walton League, many horse rescues, Mighty in the Land Ministry, and Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church. He also was involved in organized veterinary medicine as a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, and the Northeast Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Fisher’s interests spanned many subjects, from biology and geology, to natural history, hiking, canoeing, firearms, and ballistics. An expert naturalist, he had a great appreciation for nature and was known for being an outspoken advocate for wetland conservation and protecting water quality. He also liked teaching children, including his own nine grandchildren, about horses, their care, and horsemanship. He is remembered as a loyal, kind, compassionate, hard-working, loving, smart, and fun family man and a fine gentleman. A funeral service was held in January at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. The D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be given to Shriners Hospitals for Children or Mighty in the Land Ministry. Click here to view a complete obituary and share memories and expressions of sympathy with the Fisher family.