William John Fleck
May 30, 2012
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Service Details
William John Fleck, 89, died Wednesday, Mary 30, 2012 at his home. A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at Glendale Cemetery in the niche garden.
James (Jimmy) D. Hay II
06/05/2012
John was a friend of my dad's and became a friend of mine as I was growing up in Des Moines in the 1960's (I'm 53 now and I live in Chicago.)
Two hours ago, I was walking my two dachshunds around the block when l suddenly thought about John who I had not thought of in probably 20 years . . . at the very least. The last I had heard, John had moved to someplace sunny in the South (again, probably about 20 years ago) and, frankly, I assumed he had passed away a few years later.
In any case, after our walk today, and I do mean today, June 5, 2012, I decided to "Google" John to find out where in the South he had moved and . . . when he died. I cannot describe to anyone how I felt after I read that his funeral is . . . .is, well, tomorrow. I am still a bit shocked.
I have so many fond memories of John and how kind he was to me when I was very young. Case in point: John was visiting my dad one day in my dad's garage and I was playing on our swingset - I was maybe five or six at the time. I was up on the top bar swing the two-seat "glider" swing back and forth just as hard as I could. Keep in mind that my dad told me not to do that because I could hurt myself. He was right. I got my thumb caught in the swing mechanism and tore my right thumbnail off in an instand. I was screaming and there was blood everywhere; my dad and John came running out of the garage. All I remember at that moment was my dad picking me up and John turning a peculiar shade of white, turning around, getting into his car and leaving without saying a word. Fifteen minutes later, John returned with a FULL box of "Tootsie Rolls" that he had persuaded Joe Fusic to sell him (Joe used to give them away free to kids when their parents bought gas from him at his Conoco Station on Euclid). He gave me the Tootsie Rolls because, and I quote (to my father's chagrin): "These are because you were brave enough to get up on that swingset and swing that glider back and forth even though your dad warned you not to."
I am siting here now with the stamp album he gave me when I was a little boy. Inside it is written: "1935, Junior Fleck, 2701 Oxford Ave., Des Moines, Ia." The copyright on the album is 1931. It's the one he had when he was a little boy.
There are so many more stories and memories - anybody remember "Slowpoke," the paddle-wheel boat he had and kept at Birdland Marina? Good times!
Heres to you John and thank you for your friendship. I am still amazed that I thought of you today, of all days. May you rest in peace and may I see you again one day, far, far in the future where I can thank you again for your friendship which meant so much to me.
Cheers John,
JIMMY
T. Kelly
06/03/2012
May the family find comfort in fond memories, and in knowing that God is "near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves." (Psalm 34:18) Our loving Creator, Jehovah God, has promised to soon "swallow up death forever...and wipe the tears from all faces." (Isaiah 25:8) With deepest sympathy.