Beatrice May Fisher Wollin

Beatrice May Fisher Wollin, age 97, died peacefully at Boswell Hospital in Sun City, AZ, on December 25, 2017. She was born April 14, 1920, to Max and Nora Kayser near Caledonia, Michigan. Her parents raised six children on the family farm, and Bea and her siblings attended a one-room schoolhouse located on a corner of the farm.Bea married Dwight Fisher in 1940 and they had two sons, Bruce and James, whom they raised in Hastings. Both sons became attorneys.Bea was a devoted mother, but also had a successful professional career. She worked as a social worker for the Michigan Department of Social Services, and served many years as the director of the Barry County Department of Social Services. She eventually became an assistant regional director for the State of Michigan, a position from which she retired in 1976. During her career as a social worker, Bea helped many families who were struggling to survive. She had a deep faith in God and she lived her faith by always helping others.After retiring, Bea and Dwight moved to Sun City, AZ. Shortly thereafter, she started selling real estate for Del Webb Company and soon became highly successful.Her servant attitude and cheerful personality touched all and she made many friends in Sun City.Dwight died in 1988, and in 1991, Bea married Marvin R. Wollin, a successful business owner from St. Joseph. She met Marvin through her position as a realtor, and they enjoyed an active life and traveled the world together until he died in 1997.Bea was a loving mother to Marvin's two daughters, JoAnne Lilley and Denise Bern, until the day she died.Bea was a hard working, ambitious person, but always made time to help others. She also served on many civic, charitable and church-related boards. As a working mother, Bea was a trailblazer, and she set a great example for her children and grandchildren.Bea was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; sisters, Mildred (Howard) Hansen and Arlene (Bernie) Hoorn; and brother, Walter (Verna) Kayser.She is survived by her sons, Professor Bruce D. Fisher, of Sarasota, FL and Judge James Fisher (Jennifer), of Grand Rapids; brothers, Gerald (Maxine) Kayser and Vernor Kayser, both of Caledonia; stepdaughters, JoAnne (Dennis) Lilley, of Sarasota, FL, and Denise (David) Bern, of Salt Lake City, UT; granddaughter, Jaimeson Fisher, of Jackson Hole, WY; grandsons, Nils Bern, of Salt Lake City, UT, and Jaryd Bern (Colleen Costello), of Washington, DC; and great-granddaughter, Felicity Bern, of Washington, DC.Bea will be remembered as a generous, thoughtful and positive person who made many friends throughout her life.A memorial service will be held in Grand Rapids on Saturday, April 14, 2018 (which would have been Bea's 98th birthday), further details to follow.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Beatrice Wollin Scholarship Fund through the Hastings Educational Enrichment Foundation, c/o Hastings City Bank, 150 N. Court St., Hastings, MI 49058.