Robert Fleming
February 13, 2008
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Service Details
Robert Dean Fleming, 75, died, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Robert was born on October 18, 1932 in Lenox, Iowa to Marvin and Alma Fleming.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Ann; sons, Joseph (Therese) Fleming of San Diego, CA and Rev. David Fleming of Council Bluffs, IA; daughters, Susan (Thomas) Goldsmith of Earlville, IA and Karen (David Richards) Fleming of Des Moines; sisters, Joan (Vernal) Thompson and Leota (Doyle) DeVoe; uncle, Wendell Fleming; grandchildren, Marie and Brian Fleming, Ian and Hannah Goldsmith, and Emma Richards.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 16, 2008 at Our Lady of Americas Catholic Parish- Visitation Worship Center, 1271 E. 9th St., Des Moines. Visitation will be on Friday from 3-7 p.m. with family present from 5-7 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, with vigil following at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic School, 1040 E. 12th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50316.
Agnes Schwarzenbach
02/16/2008
Please accept my condolences to Father Dave and family in the loss of your father. Our prayers and thoughts are with you in this time of sorrow.
Agnes Schwarzenbach
Larry, Gary, Terry
Paul Crawford
02/16/2008
Dear Joe and family,
My sympathies to you on the passing of your father. Sorry I wasn't able to attend services. It's been a long time since Dowling debate days but I recognized your name in the Register. Hope all else is well in your life. I will keep your fasmily in my prayers.
Best,
Paul Crawford
Marshalltown IA
DHS Class of 1977
Darci Reutzel
02/17/2008
I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to Robert's family. You are such a wonderful family and you are in my thoughts and prayers. Darci Reutzel
Fr Charles Fladung
02/15/2008
Dear Mary Ann and family,
Please know of my sincere sympathy to all of you upon Robert's suddend death.
I was thinking that it was in June of 1986, upon returning from Europe, that I stayed at your home and met all of you for the first time. I was your guest as we were getting ready for Jeff and Karen Sullivan's wedding. And the invitation was extended for Tom and Sue's wedding shortly afterwards. It was during those days that I was able to visit with both Robert and MaryAnn about any number of things. Looking back, it was pretty special to be your houseguest, since I was a stranger. Did the Flemings really just invite people in off the street to stay with them? Was I ever lucky!
With a house full of people, Robert had his place in the living room, near a tall bookcase with his chair and tv. It was there that he and I had many thought provocing converstions. My dad was not much of a reader and so to see this man full of excitment about learning facinated me. We talked of dream cars, what he would like to have if he could. Knowing that Robert had bought many cars he also longed for the day that he could buy just the right one for him, but there were so many choices to think over. Car talk was always the springboard to a deeper theological discussion. That was the warm up act.
When I told Robert that my brother lived in Des Moines and that the house they owned had a lot of wrought iron railings on it and on the neighbor's house, too, he surprised me to say that all of that came from Eagle Iron Works, his place of employment. That revelation gave us an immmediate bond with him. I had admired his work! We would continue on numerous subjects, especially Church topics, administration, Bp. Dingman, Church History, RCIA, and the proper maintenance and care of a parish plant. I was equally impressed with Robert's woodworking skills, the landscaping and care he and MaryAnn gave to the lawn and garden of their home and the home improvement project planned for the basement. I could measure twice and still have the wood short or too long, but Robert knew what he was doing and his skilled showed of quality workmanship. Your home always looked so nice and welcoming, in all four seasons of the year.
I continued to be a guest at their home on the trips to Des Moines. On many occasions after Dave was in Rome I would stop by for a visit. I think Robert and MaryAnn loved hearing my Dave stories. That filled them in on what was going on in Rome!
From the farm background, I never spent any money for recreation purposes. One story Robert really liked to hear was this one. Dave had used his entire RA check to buy wind-up toys. They probably were gifts for his apostolic work. Seeing that happen, it loosened my thinking of what it really means to give freely and with charity. A lesson that I learned late in life, but a necessary one. Robert must have felt a lot of pride knowing that his son had instilled in me this lesson, and likely one that he was fond of teaching his kids.
As college and major seminary days continued, I had many more topics of conversation with Robert about Church History. I was quite impressed about his knowledge about the Councils of the Catholic Church. In fact, on one paper I wrote about the Council of Trent, Robert Fleming was a footnote.
I will truly miss this man. Yet, knowing that God has called his faithful servant home to eternal rest, may all of the Fleming family know of my love for you and my prayers for you during this time of sadness.
Fondly, Fr. Charles Fladung