Thomas Michael Fisher, 71, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died on May 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Aug. 28, 1953, in Burlington, Iowa and was the son of Catherine and Gerald Fisher.
Tom graduated from Notre Dame High School in Burlington, Iowa in 1971. On May 31, 1975, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jo Riffel, in St. John’s Church in Burlington.
Tom joined the family business, Roto-Rooter, in 1975. In 1979 he and his wife welcomed their first child, Jacob Michael Fisher, and two years later in 1981 they were blessed with a daughter, Jill Elizabeth Fisher. In 1986 Tom purchased his own Roto-Rooter franchise in Sioux City, a small one-truck operation which he turned into a thriving corporation. Tom and his family would then make Sioux City their home for the next 20 years. After the kids went off to college, Tom and Mary Jo moved back to their hometown of Burlington, Iowa, to be closer to family and friends. There they would build a home and another successful business. In 2015 Tom and Mary Jo retired to Lake Poinsett in South Dakota to enjoy lake life with their kids and grandkids.
Tom was a loving father and grandfather and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his kids and grandkids. Tom was a devoted father who took great pride in his children's accomplishments and always cheered them on from the sidelines. He never missed a football game, volleyball game, tennis match, or track meet. He adored his grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them, whether it was boating, fishing, shed hunting, going for four-wheeler rides, or just sitting around a nice bonfire making smores.
A lifelong hunter and fisherman, Tom cherished the time spent outdoors with loved ones, creating memories in the woods, on the river, and at the lake that will last a lifetime. He loved to water ski, shoot trap, mushroom hunt, and do taxidermy as well. He always looked forward to a good fish fry up at Lake Poinsett surrounded by family and friends. He loved his annual fishing trip with the boys in Canada. It was something he looked forward to and planned for all year round. He would often say that the most important thing in life was his family, and he enjoyed sharing his passion for the outdoors with his children and grandchildren.
Tom will be deeply missed, but his spirit will always be with us, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him. His spirit of adventure and his unwavering love for his family will forever be remembered.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary Jo Fisher of Sioux Falls, S.D.; his children, Jacob (Maurin) Fisher and Jill (Kirk) Hinrich both of Sioux Falls, S.D. ; seven grandchildren, Ava Josie, and TJ Fisher and Kenzie, Kyla, Kinley, and Kolton Hinrich; two sisters, Susan Johnson and Christina Lord both of Burlington; three brothers, Terry Fisher, Steve Fisher, and Jason Fisher all of Burlington; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Maurene (Fisher) Beckman, brother-in-law, Jim Riffel, brother-in-law, Bill Bence, brother-in-law, Richard Lord, sister-in-law Ginger Fisher, and nephew, Chad Crow.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of George Boom Funeral Home of Sioux Falls, S.D.
Prugh Funeral Home is in care of the funeral arrangements.
The Memorial Mass of the Resurrection for Mr. Fisher will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Divine Mercy Parish-SS. Mary and Patrick Catholic Church, West Burlington
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Divine Mercy Parish - SS. Mary and Patrick Catholic Church, West Burlington. The memorial Mass will immediately follow at 10 a.m. Family and friends are then invited to a luncheon at noon at Spirit Hollow Lodge, 5592 Club House Drive, Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, please join us in donating, in Papa Tom’s memory, to the Catch-A-Dream Foundation, a wonderful charity which gives children with life-threatening illnesses an opportunity to go on a once-in-a-lifetime hunting or fishing experience. To donate text PAPATOM to 71777 on your phone or go to https://igfn.us/vf/PAPATOM to donate. Or checks can be made out to the Catch-A-Dream Foundation and given to Mary Jo Fisher or mailed to the Catch-A-Dream Foundation at 2485 Ennis Road, Starkville, MS, 39759. Just make sure to include a note saying that your donation was in honor of Papa Tom.