Don was born in Beloit, Wis on June 1, 1925. His father, Robert W. Fisher, was a career Army officer. His mother, Arlene Fulton, died when Don was three years old. Don had two brothers: Bob, whose mother was also Arlene, and Jerry, who's mother was Lois (Don's and Bob's step mother). He also had one sister, Peggy, whose mother was Lois.

Don spent his youth in northern Wisconsin where his father was commanding officer of depression-era CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) camps at Cable, Wisconsin (Camp Cable), Seeley, Wisconsin (Camp Smith Lake) and Townsend, Wisconsin (Camp Boot Lake). Don attended Nakoma School and Madison West High School when his father was executive officer of Camp Madison (CCC camp, now the University of Wisconsin Arboretum). During his senior year at Madison West High School, Don's dad became executive office of the WAC (Women's Army Corps) training camp in Daytona Beach, Florida. Don spent the last few months of high school at Sea Breeze High School in Daytona Beach where he graduated. Still 17 years old, Don joined the Navy and volunteered for PT boat service. Shortly after the war, Don met and Married Jenny Hynek from Hillsboro, Wisconsin. Don attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and received a BS degree in economics in 1949.  He was hired by General Casualty Insurance Company in Madison as a claims adjuster in 1950, rising to the office of President and CEO in 1962. He held this position until his retirement in 1982.

The Fisher family was originally from Selingsgrove, Pennsylvania, where Don's great grandfather, Henry Fisher, a civil war veteran, was born. Don's father, Robert W. Fisher, was born in Brownville, New York, where his father, John A. Fisher, ran a paper mill. The family eventually moved to Beloit where Robert W. Fisher and his brothers Ralph and Ernest Fisher ran the Beloit Box Board Company.

These are the medals Don was awarded while in the Navy:

American Theater Campaign Medal

European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal

Philippine Liberation Medal

WWII Victory Medal

Navy Combat Action Ribbon

Purple Heart Medal

Navy Good Conduct Medal

Don was interviewed in London by Herbert M. Clark of Blue Network Radio (sponsored by Coca-Cola) on 17 October 1944 for broadcast back in the States. This interview was recorded on a glass record which was presented to Don's parents. Over the years the glass record was broken in multiple pieces but the family repaired it to make the above mp3 which we have cleaned up.