Father: Marvin E. Fiedler b. 1936 Michigan
Mother: Nancy Ann Thar d. June 15, 2022 in California
Birth mother: Deborah Diane Davis Loose b. May 31, 1948 d. May 2021
~~~~~~~
Dowagiac native dies in Santa Barbara diving boat fire
DOWAGIAC — A victim of a Santa Barbara diving boat fire used to call Dowagiac, Michigan home.
Lisa Fiedler, a 52-year old from Mill Valley, California, was one of 34 people who were trapped abroad the Conception, a boat operated by Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara. The ship caught fire before dawn Monday morning and sank in southern California's Channel Islands.
Fiedler grew up in Dowagiac, Michigan. Although she moved away in adulthood, she made an impact on the residents and her classmates in the community. In 1985, she was crowned Miss Dowagiac in the annual scholarship pageant.
"She was fearless," said Becky Schuster-Grajauskis, a friend of Fiedler's, who grew up with her in Dowagiac. "Adventurous, always smiling and always laughing. Her smile and her sparkle is one thing I will never forget."
Fiedler did not stay in Dowagiac and ended up moving to North Carolina, where she co-owned Salon Botanical, said the current owner, Laura Fredrickson. The salon had no turnover since Fiedler's ownership, and many of the hairstylists fondly remembered Fiedler in a Facebook post. Salon Botanical wrote they had missed her since she moved to California in 2005.
In California, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler's adventurous attitude continued to live on. "She was an avid diver and was actually going on for further certification, to do something with diving and CPR rescue," Schuster-Grajauskis said.
Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was not supposed to be onboard the Conception, but had gotten asked to tag-along and help since there were many first-time divers.
In addition to her love of diving, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was a talented photographer and hairdresser. "There is so much more of her than besides just growing up in Dowagiac," Schuster-Grajauskis said. "Her adulthood made such an impact on people."
Art was something Fiedler always had an eye for, said Teddi Kella, another one of Fiedler's friends in Dowagiac. Kella was on the Miss Dowagiac court with Fiedler, and the two spent time together carrying out court tasks.
"She was genuine and just was herself," Kella said. "She was just kindhearted. Everyone just knew how adventurous she was. All of us looked forward to her posts, where is she going next?" Fiedler was an animal lover, and her pets were her world, both friends said. She could often be found taking photos with her dog on her adventures.
Kella said Fiedler also had a goofy side to her personality, as she remembered when herself, Fiedler and Schuster-Grajauskis took a trip to Western Michigan University their senior year and listened to Prince's "Purple Rain" over and over again. "She was that type of person that people wanted to be around," Kella said. "She had a good personality, and that carried all the way through adulthood." For Kella and other friends, that might be what makes Fiedler's death so hard to process.
"Somebody who had so much life is gone," Kella said. "I think everybody is in disbelief."
Schuster-Grajauskis said as Fiedler was such an animal lover, Fiedler's parents are asking that anyone who wants to make any type of memorial donation give to an animal rescue foundation of their choice.
Source:
www.leaderpub.com/2019/09/04/dowagiac-native-dies-in-santa-barbara-diving-boat-fire/
Published 5:39 pm Wednesday, September 4, 2019
~~~~~~~~~~
MILL VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Nancy Fiedler, the mother of one of the Southern California boat fire victims, said her salvation is believing that her daughter died peacefully in her sleep, after a wonderful day of diving.
"Lisa texted me Sunday night... She just said I'm having a great time, beautiful spot."
Hours later, before dawn on Monday morning, the diving boat Lisa Fiedler was on, caught fire and sank in Southern California's Channel Islands. Lisa's mother, Nancy Fiedler, lives in Corte Madera, California. She presumes her only child is dead, one of 34 people who were trapped aboard the Conception.
"Everybody loved her. She was a kind, gentle person. She was a naturalist, she loved nature," said Nancy through tears. Lisa grew up in Michigan, but moved to Marin as an adult.
The 52-year-old was a hairdresser in Mill Valley, and a photographer... her stunning nature shots seen on her website. Her mother says, she was also an avid diver. "She loved the water. She was a Pisces and she said, 'I think I'm part fish'."
Beyond the pain of losing her daughter, Nancy is frustrated at lack of information she's received from officials. She also has questions about the five crew members, assigned to sleep on the deck, who did escape from the burning boat. "Why did the crew get off? I heard they had to swim around to get a dingy and then went to get help - that was valuable time lost. Why didn't they... unless they couldn't get past the flames. I don't know."
Nancy says she gave law enforcement a description of her daughter and now she has to wait for DNA results to confirm her daughter's death.
Source
abc7news.com/exclusive-mother-of-bay-area-woman-killed-in-socal-boat-fire-speaks-out/5513750/
By Kate Larsen
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 1:55AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.wndu.com/content/news/Dowagiac-woman-remembered-after-deadly-California-boat-fire-559516471.html
Thursday, September 5, 2019
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOWAGIAC — Lisa Fiedler loved the water.
So much so, her last communication with her mother was a text message Sunday night telling her she was having a great time and had just finished a wonderful day of diving.
Fiedler, Miss Dowagiac 1985, was aboard the boat that went up in flames before sinking off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in Southern California early Monday.
Her mother, Nancy Fiedler, told ABC 7 News that Lisa thought of herself as "part fish," and her zodiac sign was Pisces. The grieving mother said she takes comfort in believing her daughter died peacefully in her sleep after enjoying a day of diving.
Lisa Fiedler, 52, grew up in the Dowagiac area and most recently lived in Mill Valley, Calif. She was a hairdresser, photographer and an avid diver, her mother said.
She was one of 39 people on board the Conception, a 75-foot-long commercial diving boat. Coast Guard officials have said the few people who escaped the fire, the captain and four crew members, were awake on the upper decks and jumped off the boat. They made their way to another vessel called the Grape Escape, moored a few hundred feet away.
The others, 33 passengers and one crew member, were sleeping below and were unable to escape the burning vessel. The boat was carrying scuba diving enthusiasts on a three-day excursion. The marine biologist who was leading the diving tour is believed to be among the dead.
People who knew Lisa Fiedler when her family lived in Keeler, near Dowagiac, were expressing shock and sadness Wednesday as news of her death circulated throughout the community.
Steve Schuster lives in Jackson now but said he had a crush on Fiedler in high school and she was friends with his twin sister, Becky. He said the three were virtually inseperable in high school, and Becky has been in contact with Lisa's parents.
"I think one reason Lisa, Becky and I were so close is that we all were adopted. Becky and I were adopted together as twins, and Lisa was adopted by her parents, Marvin and Nancy Fiedler," he said.
Schuster said with all the cliques and groups that form in high school, Lisa Fiedler seemed to get along with everyone.
"She was such a kindred spirit, she had such a way about her, even back in high school. She had an infectious smile and a great personality," he said.
Teddi Kella of Niles was Miss Congeniality the year Fiedler was Miss Dowagiac. Kella posted on Facebook, "I am extremely stunned and saddened tonight after learning a close high school friend, Lisa Fiedler, was killed yesterday in the boat fire. ... I am still in disbelief."
Others posted that they were heartbroken, stunned, "shaking my head in disbelief" and "at a loss for words."
Schuster spoke with Fiedler's parents, and they said any friends who would like to view her photography may do so at www.lisafiedlerphotography.com. Also, donations in Lisa Fiedler's name can be made to animal rescue mission of the donor's choice.
Source:
www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/dowagiac-area-native-was-aboard-doomed-dive-boat/article_c1665bb9-f313-538e-ac6a-b3b8118d9d2e.html
Sep 5, 2019 Updated Sep 5, 2019
Contact: [email protected], 932-0359, Twitter: @HPSwidwa
Mother: Nancy Ann Thar d. June 15, 2022 in California
Birth mother: Deborah Diane Davis Loose b. May 31, 1948 d. May 2021
~~~~~~~
Dowagiac native dies in Santa Barbara diving boat fire
DOWAGIAC — A victim of a Santa Barbara diving boat fire used to call Dowagiac, Michigan home.
Lisa Fiedler, a 52-year old from Mill Valley, California, was one of 34 people who were trapped abroad the Conception, a boat operated by Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara. The ship caught fire before dawn Monday morning and sank in southern California's Channel Islands.
Fiedler grew up in Dowagiac, Michigan. Although she moved away in adulthood, she made an impact on the residents and her classmates in the community. In 1985, she was crowned Miss Dowagiac in the annual scholarship pageant.
"She was fearless," said Becky Schuster-Grajauskis, a friend of Fiedler's, who grew up with her in Dowagiac. "Adventurous, always smiling and always laughing. Her smile and her sparkle is one thing I will never forget."
Fiedler did not stay in Dowagiac and ended up moving to North Carolina, where she co-owned Salon Botanical, said the current owner, Laura Fredrickson. The salon had no turnover since Fiedler's ownership, and many of the hairstylists fondly remembered Fiedler in a Facebook post. Salon Botanical wrote they had missed her since she moved to California in 2005.
In California, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler's adventurous attitude continued to live on. "She was an avid diver and was actually going on for further certification, to do something with diving and CPR rescue," Schuster-Grajauskis said.
Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was not supposed to be onboard the Conception, but had gotten asked to tag-along and help since there were many first-time divers.
In addition to her love of diving, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was a talented photographer and hairdresser. "There is so much more of her than besides just growing up in Dowagiac," Schuster-Grajauskis said. "Her adulthood made such an impact on people."
Art was something Fiedler always had an eye for, said Teddi Kella, another one of Fiedler's friends in Dowagiac. Kella was on the Miss Dowagiac court with Fiedler, and the two spent time together carrying out court tasks.
"She was genuine and just was herself," Kella said. "She was just kindhearted. Everyone just knew how adventurous she was. All of us looked forward to her posts, where is she going next?" Fiedler was an animal lover, and her pets were her world, both friends said. She could often be found taking photos with her dog on her adventures.
Kella said Fiedler also had a goofy side to her personality, as she remembered when herself, Fiedler and Schuster-Grajauskis took a trip to Western Michigan University their senior year and listened to Prince's "Purple Rain" over and over again. "She was that type of person that people wanted to be around," Kella said. "She had a good personality, and that carried all the way through adulthood." For Kella and other friends, that might be what makes Fiedler's death so hard to process.
"Somebody who had so much life is gone," Kella said. "I think everybody is in disbelief."
Schuster-Grajauskis said as Fiedler was such an animal lover, Fiedler's parents are asking that anyone who wants to make any type of memorial donation give to an animal rescue foundation of their choice.
Source:
www.leaderpub.com/2019/09/04/dowagiac-native-dies-in-santa-barbara-diving-boat-fire/
Published 5:39 pm Wednesday, September 4, 2019
~~~~~~~~~~
MILL VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Nancy Fiedler, the mother of one of the Southern California boat fire victims, said her salvation is believing that her daughter died peacefully in her sleep, after a wonderful day of diving.
"Lisa texted me Sunday night... She just said I'm having a great time, beautiful spot."
Hours later, before dawn on Monday morning, the diving boat Lisa Fiedler was on, caught fire and sank in Southern California's Channel Islands. Lisa's mother, Nancy Fiedler, lives in Corte Madera, California. She presumes her only child is dead, one of 34 people who were trapped aboard the Conception.
"Everybody loved her. She was a kind, gentle person. She was a naturalist, she loved nature," said Nancy through tears. Lisa grew up in Michigan, but moved to Marin as an adult.
The 52-year-old was a hairdresser in Mill Valley, and a photographer... her stunning nature shots seen on her website. Her mother says, she was also an avid diver. "She loved the water. She was a Pisces and she said, 'I think I'm part fish'."
Beyond the pain of losing her daughter, Nancy is frustrated at lack of information she's received from officials. She also has questions about the five crew members, assigned to sleep on the deck, who did escape from the burning boat. "Why did the crew get off? I heard they had to swim around to get a dingy and then went to get help - that was valuable time lost. Why didn't they... unless they couldn't get past the flames. I don't know."
Nancy says she gave law enforcement a description of her daughter and now she has to wait for DNA results to confirm her daughter's death.
Source
abc7news.com/exclusive-mother-of-bay-area-woman-killed-in-socal-boat-fire-speaks-out/5513750/
By Kate Larsen
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 1:55AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.wndu.com/content/news/Dowagiac-woman-remembered-after-deadly-California-boat-fire-559516471.html
Thursday, September 5, 2019
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOWAGIAC — Lisa Fiedler loved the water.
So much so, her last communication with her mother was a text message Sunday night telling her she was having a great time and had just finished a wonderful day of diving.
Fiedler, Miss Dowagiac 1985, was aboard the boat that went up in flames before sinking off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in Southern California early Monday.
Her mother, Nancy Fiedler, told ABC 7 News that Lisa thought of herself as "part fish," and her zodiac sign was Pisces. The grieving mother said she takes comfort in believing her daughter died peacefully in her sleep after enjoying a day of diving.
Lisa Fiedler, 52, grew up in the Dowagiac area and most recently lived in Mill Valley, Calif. She was a hairdresser, photographer and an avid diver, her mother said.
She was one of 39 people on board the Conception, a 75-foot-long commercial diving boat. Coast Guard officials have said the few people who escaped the fire, the captain and four crew members, were awake on the upper decks and jumped off the boat. They made their way to another vessel called the Grape Escape, moored a few hundred feet away.
The others, 33 passengers and one crew member, were sleeping below and were unable to escape the burning vessel. The boat was carrying scuba diving enthusiasts on a three-day excursion. The marine biologist who was leading the diving tour is believed to be among the dead.
People who knew Lisa Fiedler when her family lived in Keeler, near Dowagiac, were expressing shock and sadness Wednesday as news of her death circulated throughout the community.
Steve Schuster lives in Jackson now but said he had a crush on Fiedler in high school and she was friends with his twin sister, Becky. He said the three were virtually inseperable in high school, and Becky has been in contact with Lisa's parents.
"I think one reason Lisa, Becky and I were so close is that we all were adopted. Becky and I were adopted together as twins, and Lisa was adopted by her parents, Marvin and Nancy Fiedler," he said.
Schuster said with all the cliques and groups that form in high school, Lisa Fiedler seemed to get along with everyone.
"She was such a kindred spirit, she had such a way about her, even back in high school. She had an infectious smile and a great personality," he said.
Teddi Kella of Niles was Miss Congeniality the year Fiedler was Miss Dowagiac. Kella posted on Facebook, "I am extremely stunned and saddened tonight after learning a close high school friend, Lisa Fiedler, was killed yesterday in the boat fire. ... I am still in disbelief."
Others posted that they were heartbroken, stunned, "shaking my head in disbelief" and "at a loss for words."
Schuster spoke with Fiedler's parents, and they said any friends who would like to view her photography may do so at www.lisafiedlerphotography.com. Also, donations in Lisa Fiedler's name can be made to animal rescue mission of the donor's choice.
Source:
www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/dowagiac-area-native-was-aboard-doomed-dive-boat/article_c1665bb9-f313-538e-ac6a-b3b8118d9d2e.html
Sep 5, 2019 Updated Sep 5, 2019
Contact: [email protected], 932-0359, Twitter: @HPSwidwa
Father: Marvin E. Fiedler b. 1936 Michigan
Mother: Nancy Ann Thar d. June 15, 2022 in California
Birth mother: Deborah Diane Davis Loose b. May 31, 1948 d. May 2021
~~~~~~~
Dowagiac native dies in Santa Barbara diving boat fire
DOWAGIAC — A victim of a Santa Barbara diving boat fire used to call Dowagiac, Michigan home.
Lisa Fiedler, a 52-year old from Mill Valley, California, was one of 34 people who were trapped abroad the Conception, a boat operated by Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara. The ship caught fire before dawn Monday morning and sank in southern California's Channel Islands.
Fiedler grew up in Dowagiac, Michigan. Although she moved away in adulthood, she made an impact on the residents and her classmates in the community. In 1985, she was crowned Miss Dowagiac in the annual scholarship pageant.
"She was fearless," said Becky Schuster-Grajauskis, a friend of Fiedler's, who grew up with her in Dowagiac. "Adventurous, always smiling and always laughing. Her smile and her sparkle is one thing I will never forget."
Fiedler did not stay in Dowagiac and ended up moving to North Carolina, where she co-owned Salon Botanical, said the current owner, Laura Fredrickson. The salon had no turnover since Fiedler's ownership, and many of the hairstylists fondly remembered Fiedler in a Facebook post. Salon Botanical wrote they had missed her since she moved to California in 2005.
In California, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler's adventurous attitude continued to live on. "She was an avid diver and was actually going on for further certification, to do something with diving and CPR rescue," Schuster-Grajauskis said.
Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was not supposed to be onboard the Conception, but had gotten asked to tag-along and help since there were many first-time divers.
In addition to her love of diving, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was a talented photographer and hairdresser. "There is so much more of her than besides just growing up in Dowagiac," Schuster-Grajauskis said. "Her adulthood made such an impact on people."
Art was something Fiedler always had an eye for, said Teddi Kella, another one of Fiedler's friends in Dowagiac. Kella was on the Miss Dowagiac court with Fiedler, and the two spent time together carrying out court tasks.
"She was genuine and just was herself," Kella said. "She was just kindhearted. Everyone just knew how adventurous she was. All of us looked forward to her posts, where is she going next?" Fiedler was an animal lover, and her pets were her world, both friends said. She could often be found taking photos with her dog on her adventures.
Kella said Fiedler also had a goofy side to her personality, as she remembered when herself, Fiedler and Schuster-Grajauskis took a trip to Western Michigan University their senior year and listened to Prince's "Purple Rain" over and over again. "She was that type of person that people wanted to be around," Kella said. "She had a good personality, and that carried all the way through adulthood." For Kella and other friends, that might be what makes Fiedler's death so hard to process.
"Somebody who had so much life is gone," Kella said. "I think everybody is in disbelief."
Schuster-Grajauskis said as Fiedler was such an animal lover, Fiedler's parents are asking that anyone who wants to make any type of memorial donation give to an animal rescue foundation of their choice.
Source:
www.leaderpub.com/2019/09/04/dowagiac-native-dies-in-santa-barbara-diving-boat-fire/
Published 5:39 pm Wednesday, September 4, 2019
~~~~~~~~~~
MILL VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Nancy Fiedler, the mother of one of the Southern California boat fire victims, said her salvation is believing that her daughter died peacefully in her sleep, after a wonderful day of diving.
"Lisa texted me Sunday night... She just said I'm having a great time, beautiful spot."
Hours later, before dawn on Monday morning, the diving boat Lisa Fiedler was on, caught fire and sank in Southern California's Channel Islands. Lisa's mother, Nancy Fiedler, lives in Corte Madera, California. She presumes her only child is dead, one of 34 people who were trapped aboard the Conception.
"Everybody loved her. She was a kind, gentle person. She was a naturalist, she loved nature," said Nancy through tears. Lisa grew up in Michigan, but moved to Marin as an adult.
The 52-year-old was a hairdresser in Mill Valley, and a photographer... her stunning nature shots seen on her website. Her mother says, she was also an avid diver. "She loved the water. She was a Pisces and she said, 'I think I'm part fish'."
Beyond the pain of losing her daughter, Nancy is frustrated at lack of information she's received from officials. She also has questions about the five crew members, assigned to sleep on the deck, who did escape from the burning boat. "Why did the crew get off? I heard they had to swim around to get a dingy and then went to get help - that was valuable time lost. Why didn't they... unless they couldn't get past the flames. I don't know."
Nancy says she gave law enforcement a description of her daughter and now she has to wait for DNA results to confirm her daughter's death.
Source
abc7news.com/exclusive-mother-of-bay-area-woman-killed-in-socal-boat-fire-speaks-out/5513750/
By Kate Larsen
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 1:55AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.wndu.com/content/news/Dowagiac-woman-remembered-after-deadly-California-boat-fire-559516471.html
Thursday, September 5, 2019
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOWAGIAC — Lisa Fiedler loved the water.
So much so, her last communication with her mother was a text message Sunday night telling her she was having a great time and had just finished a wonderful day of diving.
Fiedler, Miss Dowagiac 1985, was aboard the boat that went up in flames before sinking off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in Southern California early Monday.
Her mother, Nancy Fiedler, told ABC 7 News that Lisa thought of herself as "part fish," and her zodiac sign was Pisces. The grieving mother said she takes comfort in believing her daughter died peacefully in her sleep after enjoying a day of diving.
Lisa Fiedler, 52, grew up in the Dowagiac area and most recently lived in Mill Valley, Calif. She was a hairdresser, photographer and an avid diver, her mother said.
She was one of 39 people on board the Conception, a 75-foot-long commercial diving boat. Coast Guard officials have said the few people who escaped the fire, the captain and four crew members, were awake on the upper decks and jumped off the boat. They made their way to another vessel called the Grape Escape, moored a few hundred feet away.
The others, 33 passengers and one crew member, were sleeping below and were unable to escape the burning vessel. The boat was carrying scuba diving enthusiasts on a three-day excursion. The marine biologist who was leading the diving tour is believed to be among the dead.
People who knew Lisa Fiedler when her family lived in Keeler, near Dowagiac, were expressing shock and sadness Wednesday as news of her death circulated throughout the community.
Steve Schuster lives in Jackson now but said he had a crush on Fiedler in high school and she was friends with his twin sister, Becky. He said the three were virtually inseperable in high school, and Becky has been in contact with Lisa's parents.
"I think one reason Lisa, Becky and I were so close is that we all were adopted. Becky and I were adopted together as twins, and Lisa was adopted by her parents, Marvin and Nancy Fiedler," he said.
Schuster said with all the cliques and groups that form in high school, Lisa Fiedler seemed to get along with everyone.
"She was such a kindred spirit, she had such a way about her, even back in high school. She had an infectious smile and a great personality," he said.
Teddi Kella of Niles was Miss Congeniality the year Fiedler was Miss Dowagiac. Kella posted on Facebook, "I am extremely stunned and saddened tonight after learning a close high school friend, Lisa Fiedler, was killed yesterday in the boat fire. ... I am still in disbelief."
Others posted that they were heartbroken, stunned, "shaking my head in disbelief" and "at a loss for words."
Schuster spoke with Fiedler's parents, and they said any friends who would like to view her photography may do so at www.lisafiedlerphotography.com. Also, donations in Lisa Fiedler's name can be made to animal rescue mission of the donor's choice.
Source:
www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/dowagiac-area-native-was-aboard-doomed-dive-boat/article_c1665bb9-f313-538e-ac6a-b3b8118d9d2e.html
Sep 5, 2019 Updated Sep 5, 2019
Contact: [email protected], 932-0359, Twitter: @HPSwidwa
Mother: Nancy Ann Thar d. June 15, 2022 in California
Birth mother: Deborah Diane Davis Loose b. May 31, 1948 d. May 2021
~~~~~~~
Dowagiac native dies in Santa Barbara diving boat fire
DOWAGIAC — A victim of a Santa Barbara diving boat fire used to call Dowagiac, Michigan home.
Lisa Fiedler, a 52-year old from Mill Valley, California, was one of 34 people who were trapped abroad the Conception, a boat operated by Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara. The ship caught fire before dawn Monday morning and sank in southern California's Channel Islands.
Fiedler grew up in Dowagiac, Michigan. Although she moved away in adulthood, she made an impact on the residents and her classmates in the community. In 1985, she was crowned Miss Dowagiac in the annual scholarship pageant.
"She was fearless," said Becky Schuster-Grajauskis, a friend of Fiedler's, who grew up with her in Dowagiac. "Adventurous, always smiling and always laughing. Her smile and her sparkle is one thing I will never forget."
Fiedler did not stay in Dowagiac and ended up moving to North Carolina, where she co-owned Salon Botanical, said the current owner, Laura Fredrickson. The salon had no turnover since Fiedler's ownership, and many of the hairstylists fondly remembered Fiedler in a Facebook post. Salon Botanical wrote they had missed her since she moved to California in 2005.
In California, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler's adventurous attitude continued to live on. "She was an avid diver and was actually going on for further certification, to do something with diving and CPR rescue," Schuster-Grajauskis said.
Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was not supposed to be onboard the Conception, but had gotten asked to tag-along and help since there were many first-time divers.
In addition to her love of diving, Schuster-Grajauskis said Fiedler was a talented photographer and hairdresser. "There is so much more of her than besides just growing up in Dowagiac," Schuster-Grajauskis said. "Her adulthood made such an impact on people."
Art was something Fiedler always had an eye for, said Teddi Kella, another one of Fiedler's friends in Dowagiac. Kella was on the Miss Dowagiac court with Fiedler, and the two spent time together carrying out court tasks.
"She was genuine and just was herself," Kella said. "She was just kindhearted. Everyone just knew how adventurous she was. All of us looked forward to her posts, where is she going next?" Fiedler was an animal lover, and her pets were her world, both friends said. She could often be found taking photos with her dog on her adventures.
Kella said Fiedler also had a goofy side to her personality, as she remembered when herself, Fiedler and Schuster-Grajauskis took a trip to Western Michigan University their senior year and listened to Prince's "Purple Rain" over and over again. "She was that type of person that people wanted to be around," Kella said. "She had a good personality, and that carried all the way through adulthood." For Kella and other friends, that might be what makes Fiedler's death so hard to process.
"Somebody who had so much life is gone," Kella said. "I think everybody is in disbelief."
Schuster-Grajauskis said as Fiedler was such an animal lover, Fiedler's parents are asking that anyone who wants to make any type of memorial donation give to an animal rescue foundation of their choice.
Source:
www.leaderpub.com/2019/09/04/dowagiac-native-dies-in-santa-barbara-diving-boat-fire/
Published 5:39 pm Wednesday, September 4, 2019
~~~~~~~~~~
MILL VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Nancy Fiedler, the mother of one of the Southern California boat fire victims, said her salvation is believing that her daughter died peacefully in her sleep, after a wonderful day of diving.
"Lisa texted me Sunday night... She just said I'm having a great time, beautiful spot."
Hours later, before dawn on Monday morning, the diving boat Lisa Fiedler was on, caught fire and sank in Southern California's Channel Islands. Lisa's mother, Nancy Fiedler, lives in Corte Madera, California. She presumes her only child is dead, one of 34 people who were trapped aboard the Conception.
"Everybody loved her. She was a kind, gentle person. She was a naturalist, she loved nature," said Nancy through tears. Lisa grew up in Michigan, but moved to Marin as an adult.
The 52-year-old was a hairdresser in Mill Valley, and a photographer... her stunning nature shots seen on her website. Her mother says, she was also an avid diver. "She loved the water. She was a Pisces and she said, 'I think I'm part fish'."
Beyond the pain of losing her daughter, Nancy is frustrated at lack of information she's received from officials. She also has questions about the five crew members, assigned to sleep on the deck, who did escape from the burning boat. "Why did the crew get off? I heard they had to swim around to get a dingy and then went to get help - that was valuable time lost. Why didn't they... unless they couldn't get past the flames. I don't know."
Nancy says she gave law enforcement a description of her daughter and now she has to wait for DNA results to confirm her daughter's death.
Source
abc7news.com/exclusive-mother-of-bay-area-woman-killed-in-socal-boat-fire-speaks-out/5513750/
By Kate Larsen
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 1:55AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.wndu.com/content/news/Dowagiac-woman-remembered-after-deadly-California-boat-fire-559516471.html
Thursday, September 5, 2019
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DOWAGIAC — Lisa Fiedler loved the water.
So much so, her last communication with her mother was a text message Sunday night telling her she was having a great time and had just finished a wonderful day of diving.
Fiedler, Miss Dowagiac 1985, was aboard the boat that went up in flames before sinking off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in Southern California early Monday.
Her mother, Nancy Fiedler, told ABC 7 News that Lisa thought of herself as "part fish," and her zodiac sign was Pisces. The grieving mother said she takes comfort in believing her daughter died peacefully in her sleep after enjoying a day of diving.
Lisa Fiedler, 52, grew up in the Dowagiac area and most recently lived in Mill Valley, Calif. She was a hairdresser, photographer and an avid diver, her mother said.
She was one of 39 people on board the Conception, a 75-foot-long commercial diving boat. Coast Guard officials have said the few people who escaped the fire, the captain and four crew members, were awake on the upper decks and jumped off the boat. They made their way to another vessel called the Grape Escape, moored a few hundred feet away.
The others, 33 passengers and one crew member, were sleeping below and were unable to escape the burning vessel. The boat was carrying scuba diving enthusiasts on a three-day excursion. The marine biologist who was leading the diving tour is believed to be among the dead.
People who knew Lisa Fiedler when her family lived in Keeler, near Dowagiac, were expressing shock and sadness Wednesday as news of her death circulated throughout the community.
Steve Schuster lives in Jackson now but said he had a crush on Fiedler in high school and she was friends with his twin sister, Becky. He said the three were virtually inseperable in high school, and Becky has been in contact with Lisa's parents.
"I think one reason Lisa, Becky and I were so close is that we all were adopted. Becky and I were adopted together as twins, and Lisa was adopted by her parents, Marvin and Nancy Fiedler," he said.
Schuster said with all the cliques and groups that form in high school, Lisa Fiedler seemed to get along with everyone.
"She was such a kindred spirit, she had such a way about her, even back in high school. She had an infectious smile and a great personality," he said.
Teddi Kella of Niles was Miss Congeniality the year Fiedler was Miss Dowagiac. Kella posted on Facebook, "I am extremely stunned and saddened tonight after learning a close high school friend, Lisa Fiedler, was killed yesterday in the boat fire. ... I am still in disbelief."
Others posted that they were heartbroken, stunned, "shaking my head in disbelief" and "at a loss for words."
Schuster spoke with Fiedler's parents, and they said any friends who would like to view her photography may do so at www.lisafiedlerphotography.com. Also, donations in Lisa Fiedler's name can be made to animal rescue mission of the donor's choice.
Source:
www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/dowagiac-area-native-was-aboard-doomed-dive-boat/article_c1665bb9-f313-538e-ac6a-b3b8118d9d2e.html
Sep 5, 2019 Updated Sep 5, 2019
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