St. Clair County Circuit Judge Jan V. Fiss, 76, died Monday after a battle with cancer.
Fiss, a Democrat, presided over the felony division in St. Clair County.
Fiss was expected to retire next month. St. Clair County Associate Judge Heinz Rudolf was elected to fill Fiss’ vacancy.
Fiss briefly served as St. Clair County Chief Judge before stepping down in March 2007. Circuit Judge John Baricevic was then elected chief judge.
Fiss was retained to a six year term as a circuit judge in2012 with 75 percent of the “yes” votes. He was also retained with 75 percent of the vote in 2000 and 2006.
In a 2005 Q&A with the Record, Fiss shared his love for the St. Clair County Circuit Court and implied that he had no intentions of pursuing a seat on a higher court.
“I really have the best job in the world. Need I say more,” he said.
Fiss earned his B.A. from Arizona State University and his J.D. from the University of Illinois. He was admitted to the bar in 1968.
Fiss is survived by his wife Marsha Weston-Fiss and sons J.V. Fiss and Matthew Fiss.