Obituary of William Fancher

William (Bill) Fancher, 81, passed the morning of Friday, January 5th, 2024 peacefully.

Bill was born on April 18, 1942, in Minneapolis, to Homer and Inis Fancher. Growing up in South Minneapolis, he was the middle of three children (Joyce/Bob). He attended Cooper Elementary School, and later began working at his father’s restaurant, The Hiawatha Grill. By doing so, he was proudly able to earn enough that he could afford tuition to Minnehaha Academy.

Bill, a fan of all Minnesota sports teams, was also an avid sportster himself. He played and coached both baseball and broomball in Bracket Park, and later on, in summer beer leagues in Hackensack. Bill also enjoyed fishing trips with friends, a hand of cards, and his truest passion, bowling, which he continued to play clear into his 80s.

A dedicated careerman, Bill started out driving trucks for Pillsbury, before being recruited to drive for Litho Supply Company by friend Wes Neilson. Bill recalled Wes pitching: “I can’t say we pay well, but we have a whole lot more fun.” Bill was sold and interviewed the very next day. With his affinity for numbers, Bill quickly found himself in charge of inventory management. Once, based on sales history alone, Bill was able to help the FBI identify and capture a prevalent counterfeiter. Bill spent the entirety of his career in commercial printing, seeing the industry transition from lithography to digital printing, and retiring as purchasing and inventory manager with Fujifilm.

Father, grandfather (Papa), brother, uncle, and friend, Bill truly treasured the people in his life and always had a laugh and time to treat dear ones to a meal shared together.

Those remembering Bill include his family: his daughter Mary Beth Fancher (Torrey); his grandchildren Jodi (Austin) and Michael Gullickson; his brother Bob; and his nieces and nephews Vicki McCluskey (Dan), Sally Lau, Nick Fancher, and Joey McCluskey; and lifelong friends from Minneapolis: Galvin & Heider Families, Hackensack, and indeed the world: Mihn (Hung) Tran & Isobel Wilson.

As a father, Bill was adoring, kind and fair. Gifting his daughter the wit of sarcasm, wielded with light-hearted expertise. Bill made time each summer for family vacations at Shady Shores Resort, later settling in at the family cabins on Birch Lake.

As Papa, he truly shined and will be remembered for his unconditional love, dry humor, and passion for the outdoors. As a Brother and Uncle Bill will be remembered for his bolstering laugh and for always being their number one fan and supporter.

He is preceded in death by his parents Homer and Inis Fancher, his sister Joyce Fancher-Wold, and brother-in-law Jerry Wold.

The family would like to share a heartfelt thank-you for the care, patience, and friendship provided by all at Beehive Homes in Lakeville.

Instead of flowers or gifts, the family asks that you plant a flowering tree or butterfly garden. Bill was partial to the low-maintenance Stonecrop - a hearty perennial, flowering sedum suitable for Minnesota summers & winters.

A Celebration of Life will be held in April of this year. To be notified of event details fill out form at www.eventcreate.com/e/remembering-bill-fancher.