J. Fischer

J. NOREEN FISCHER (1922 – 2011) CEDAR FALLS – Noreen Fischer, 89, of Cedar Falls died Saturday, August 13, at the Western Home Communities Elizabeth E. Martin Health Center from complications of congestive heart failure. Noreen was born January 26, 1922 in Denver, CO to Rose Barker and Arlo Cornell Greenawalt. She grew up in El Paso, TX and graduated with a B.A. from the University of Colorado in 1942. After becoming the first women hired by the Department of Agriculture (Denver) in an executive position, she married her college sweetheart and co-worker, Robbins W. (Bob) Fischer on April 10, 1943. They celebrated 67 years together before his death on September 9, 2010. Noreen worked in various government agencies – establishing school lunch programs, analyzing tax appraisals, and as Director of the Selective Service Office in Onawa, IA near the Fischer family farms. After a break until the youngest of their 3 daughters was in school, she came back to the office to support her husband's two companies, International Business Associates and SoyPro International, as Vice President. Noreen became an expert in international sales and shipping of their client's agricultural equipment, including Roskamp roller mills. While Bob traveled the world, Noreen became active in the community. She served terms on the boards of Junior Achievement, Leadership Investment For Tomorrow (LIFT), Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce, Regional Coordinating Council, Cedar Falls Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and the Iowa State Humanities Advisory Board. She focused on Federal job training and spent 23 years (1977-2000) on the six-county board that evolved from CETA, to JTPA, PIC and Workforce Development serving as Chairman from 1983-96. Under her leadership, Area VII developed a model for assisting ex-farmers that was officially adopted nationwide. She consistently pressured Congress to make sure a majority of the local board members were from private industry, not government agencies, to keep the training focused on employer needs. Noreen was a charter member of Cedar Falls Altrusa, focused on childhood literacy; Markeeters, an investment club; and a 62 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, supporting grant/loan programs for women's education. She was active in Republican Women and her church. Awards: National PIC Chairman Award 1983, Governor's Export Award (IBA) 1983, Women in Communications Salute Award 1986, Community Volunteerism Award 1989, Governor's Volunteer Award 1990 and 1994, Private Industry Council Chairman Award 2000. Preceded in death by: her husband, sister Patricia Greenawalt and daughter Martha Denton. Survived by: two daughters, Barbara (Dale) Hatinger of Cedar Falls and Dorothy Fischer of Coppell, TX. Services: Saturday, September 10, at 11:00 A.M. at the First Congregational Church of Waterloo with private burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Public visitation at the church Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Memorials: P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund and First Congregational Church of Waterloo.

J. Fischer

January 7, 1936 - August 30, 2011