Robert Earl Fischer

Robert Earl Fischer 4/9/1954 - 8/21/2022 Bob was born in Denver on April 9, 1954, to Judy Adams and Bill Fischer, and spent his formative years in Lander Wyoming. He spent most of his adult life based in Houston, TX but couldn’t wait to get out of the city. He essentially moved to Boulder, WY in 2019, making occasional trips back to Houston. After graduating from DeVry University, he briefly worked at Texas Instruments where he helped develop microwave oven digital controls and electronic darts. For most of his career he worked for Aero Service, (then Western Geophysical as companies changed names). He spent many years in the field doing aerial magnetometer survey. He loved flying. In 1985, he was transferred to the Houston office where he became the design engineer for the nascent GPS group.That was where and when he met his wife, Nancy. For the last 10 years of his working life, he was a partner in a small engineering design firm in Houston He had a wide range of interests including working on old Harleys, particularly the electrical systems, then riding with his friends all over south Texas and beyond. He may not have been the fastest of the wild bunch, but his gear always worked. He was an avid hiker, backpacker and kayaker and loved being in the wilderness. Bob was rightfully proud of his work as a design engineer. He was part of the group at Aero Service that developed the Macrometer GPS System, the first commercial GPS. A Macrometer GPS System is in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. He also holds patents for his work developing telemetry systems for use in arctic marine survey and exploration. He travelled the world for work and then again for fun. He was an avid reader of scientific journals and thrillers. He loved old westerns. He could recite the poetry of T.S. Eliot. He could 2 step, swing and loved to waltz. Last year he started downhill skiing after a 35 year hiatus. He was usually the smartest guy in the room. His friends referred to him as Mr. Science. He could explain very technical systems to almost anyone so that they would understand them. He had a wicked but subtle sense of humor. He loved rockhounding and was a member of the Houston Gem and Mineral Society and the Sublette County (Wyoming) Rockhounds. He collected minerals and hand made knives. He leaves behind his wife of 31 years, Nancy, his stepson and new daughter in law, Matthew and Allison Sklar of Canyon Lake TX and Houston, TX and many dear friends.