Ione Hanson Fischer

Ione Hanson Fischer died peacefully in her sleep November 30, 2022. Her parents were Mabel and Ray Hanson, both deceased, of Windom, Minnesota.

Ione grew up on her parents’ farm. She was valedictorian of her highschool class and then attended St. Olaf in Northfield, MN. She later earned a Masters in Library Science at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

She married Randall “Randy” Fischer on January 1, 1954, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Windom, MN. They were blessed with three children: their older daughter, Nancy and husband Victor Evans, their son David and wife Joie, and daughter Karen and husband Eric Kenny. Ione was “Gma” to eight grandchildren, each of whom just knew they were her favorite: Kelsie Evans, her husband Doug Woodhouse, Tori Evans and husband Mathieu Devillers, Julie Evans, Jacob Fischer, Cassie Fischer Middleton, Kristen Bonner and husband Cole Bonner, Margaret Kenny Osborne and her husband Brantley Osborne, and Michael Kenny. Ione was beloved “Gigi” to six great grandchildren: Reed and Fox Evans Woodhouse, Maxine and Benjamin Evans Devillers, and Finn and Sienna Bonner.

Ione and Randy bred, raised, trained, and showed Arabian horses on a magical farm in Raeford, NC. Many of the grandchildren’s greatest memories are of their time spent with Grandma and Papa.

In 2000, Ione and Randy moved to Lynchburg, VA, where they spent many happy hours watching the grandchildren play a variety of sports. They became members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where they made many lifelong friends. Ione found joy in the music, liturgy, and sermons. Special thanks to Pastor Dennis Roberts and to the Church Family for all their love and support.

In Lynchburg, Ione reignited her talent and love of painting, taking lessons and made many artist friends, along the way blessing family and friends with her artwork.

Ione also pursued her lifelong love of games. She played a mean game of pinochle with the family and made dear friends playing bridge.

Ione felt blessed to live on Westminster Canterbury Hearthside fourth floor and was always grateful for her loving care from all the nurses, therapists, and caregivers in Assisted Living.

A celebration of life service for Ione will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 Langhorne Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24503, or the Lynchburg Humane Society, 1211 Old Graves Mill Rd Lynchburg, VA 24502.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.