Jon M. Fish, 79, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born in South Bend, IN on January 3, 1947, to the late John M. and Eleanor (Gardener) Fish.

He is survived by his children, Amy (Charlie) McLeod, and Adam (Paige) Fish and his two adoring grandchildren, Emily McLeod and Lucas Fish. Jon was reunited in heaven with his beloved wife of 48 years, Cheryl G. “Cherie” (VanDusen) Fish, as well as his parents, and his four siblings, Connie Koontz, Jerry Fish, Dana Fish, and Dawn Fish.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 2 to 6 p.m. with a rosary recitation at 5:30 p.m. at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St. in Elkhart, IN. Mass will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with an hour of visitation prior from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1108 S. Main St. Elkhart, IN 46516. Jon will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger during a private graveside service with military honors.

Jon carried himself with a quiet strength and a fiercely independent spirit, traits that served him well when he proudly answered the call to serve his country in the United States Air Force. A proud 1965 graduate of Washington High School, Jon returned home from his military service and married the love of his life, Cherie, on August 1, 1970. Together, they built a beautiful life and shared nearly five wonderful decades. Jon was a dedicated provider, spending 40 years as a computer engineer at Honeywell before enjoying a well-deserved retirement in 2011.

His deep, unwavering faith was the cornerstone of his life; he was a devout Catholic and a familiar, welcoming presence at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Jon deeply believed in giving back to the community he loved, selflessly sharing his time and heart over the years with both the Knights of Columbus and the Baugo Lions Club.

Hockey was another of Jon’s greatest lifelong passions; he was a die-hard Chicago Blackhawks fan. He was the first Referee in Chief for the South Bend area and was part of the Mid-American district within USA Hockey and held many different positions. He found immense joy in coaching his son, Adam, sharing a love for the sport and who is now the local referee supervisor for South Bend. Some of his happiest moments were spent at local rinks, where he simply loved being around the game and swapping favorite hockey stories with anyone who would listen.