Donald Flugge
May 10, 1930 ~ February 26, 2014
Donald Flugge age 83, of Elma, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at Colonial Manor in Elma.
Funeral Services for Don will be held at 12:00pm on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma with Reverend Ryan McDermott officiating. Burial will be held at a later date.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 until the time of service on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma.
Donald "Don" Arthur Flugge as born on May 10, 1930 to Elmer and Elsie (Lubbert) Flugge at their family home in rural Howard County. He attended Elma Public School to the eighth grade. At the age of 9 Don moved to Rudd, where he lived and farmed with the Robert's family. Don then returned to Elma where he worked at the Klobassa Store. As a young teenager it was at this time that Don lost his right arm in an accident. He then attended a trade school in Chicago before returning to Des Moines where he worked for Square Deal Insurance. It was there that he met Donna L. Troutman. The couple was married on May 15, 1955. To this union three children were born; John, James and Joseph. The couple later divorced. Don returned to education, receiving his training as an audiologist. During this time Don met and was united in marriage to Dorothy Van De Voort on November 11, 1983. They later divorced. Don owned and operated Pella Hearing Aid Center in Pella until his retirement in 2003. After retiring, Don moved to Elma where he was reunited with childhood friend, Beverly Kirchner. The couple was united in marriage on November 13, 2003. Don was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma. He enjoyed nature, gardening, bird watching, rock collecting and photography. Often Don loved to escape to his woods to enjoy the nature that surrounded him. He truly enjoyed children; their innocence and wonderment captivated him as he mentored them to reach their fullest potential.
Don is survived by his wife, Bevery Flugge of Elma; his son, Joseph Flugge of San Jose, CA: his grandsons, Jamie Lee (Amy) Flugge-Smith of Granger, IA and Jason (Megan) Flugge-Smith of Urbandale, IA; his stepchildren, Kathy (Bob) McIntire of Cresco, James (Jain Qin) Nielson of Tucson, AZ, Ron Nielson of Cresco, Patricia Mitchell of Elma and Peder (Peg) Nielson of Gilbert, AZ; his great-grandchildren, Jayden, James and Amina; numerous step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; his siblings, Helen Bartels of Denver, IA, Ralph Flugge of Lime Springs, IA, Clara Freebury of Fredericksburg, IA, Alden (Florence) Flugge of Osage, IA, Rosanna (Vern) La Barge of Nashua, IA, Inez (Don) Bode of Rochester, MN and Roy (Sharon) Flugge of Chickasaw OK; numerous nieces and nephews, and Don's special "sweetheart, " Sierra.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sons, John in 2004 and James in 1986; his siblings, Lloyd, Floyd, Leona, Melvin, Alvina, Malinda and Delphine.
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Dear Family of Donald Flugge, I want to express my sincere sympathy for the loss of your loved one. You can be sure that comfort and hope are found in the pages of the Bible. In the Bible book of John 5 21.we are told ” For just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, so the Son also makes alive whomever he wants to” this is such a wonderful hope for us and to remind us that we can see our loved ones and friends again. Take care of yourselves and keep those precious memories of your loved one close. Sincerely Mrs Sandi Watkins
Way to many memories to count. Uncle Donny bought me my first camera when I was probably 6 years old. At the time it was a high dollar polaroid. Man did I think I was super special!!! From that moment on his love for photography touched me. As an adult I started my own photography business. I never became the amazing photographer he was of the beautiful nature around us. His love never stopped. When my first chiild was born I recieved this box in the mail. I had no clue what it was. As I opened it, it was this absolutely gorgous Baptism Gown. It was beautiful. All 3 of my girls were baptised in it,. and it has been put in storage for their children to wear as well. When my youngest daughter, Sierra, was 2 years old, her and Donny connected on some level that many do not understand. She is and always will be his little “sweetheart”. Over the past 13 years they have shared stories, she has heard and learned all about his life, his struggles, and his deep faith. In return she has sent him numerous letters, always keeping him updated on what was going on in her life. They communicated continuously, and he has become a extremely special person in her life. Sierra is going to miss him greatly!!!! During her freshman year of high school (last year) she had to write a paper on who is the person you admire the most in life. Her paper was about her Great Uncle Donny. She submitted it and then after getting an A on it, she sent him a copy. Tears filled his eyes and once again their special bond showed through. I could go on and on and on about all the stories he shared with us about his life. But you all would be reading for days. His stories will forever remain in our hearts and because of him, Sierra has learned that you can do anything in life that you want to do, and that you need to work hard and all things are possible. Uncle Donny, you were a great, great man, and you are going to be missed more then you ever could have imagined. Thank you for being a great Uncle, and a huge Thank you for being the person Sierra looks up to most in life, and for guiding her in the right direction and reassuring her the sky is the limit if she works hard for it. You will never know how much you have guided her and how much you are loved!!!
Four Generations of Flugges
Love you Grandpa
My heartfelt sympathy to you, Beverly, to Dons son, Joe, and to all his family. Dons sister, Helen Bartels, was married to my Uncle Victor Bartels. My second husband, Albert Flugge, Jr. was a cousin to Don. I loved reading the story about Sierra- how wonderful he shared so much with her – as well as many others. Love, Lois Friedrich-Flugge
Please accept our sincere condolences. May the words quoted from this song bring you a measure of comfort as it did for us. If a man should die, can he live again Hear the promise God has made He will call; The dead will answer. They shall live at his command. For he will have a longing For the work of his own hand. So have faith, and do not wonder, For our God can make us stand. And we shall live forever, As the work of his own hand (Job 1413-15)