 1919 - 2010 (91 years)
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| Name |
John Robert Fleming |
| Nickname |
Jack |
| Born |
23 Jun 1919 |
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
9 Nov 2010 |
Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA |
| Person ID |
I22581 |
Family Tree |
| Last Modified |
20 Feb 2017 |
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| Notes |
- On November 9, 2010, the soul of John R. Fleming, loving husband, father, and friend, passed from this world. He is greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues. John Robert Fleming was born June 23, 1919, in Sault Ste. Marie to Elmer and Grace (Graham) Fleming. With a grandfather and three uncles also named John, young John Robert came to be known as Jack. When Jack was a boy, the family moved to Marquette. By 1934, the Great Depression had made times difficult, so Jack took a job after school to help pay the bills. In the summer before his high school junior year, he hiked back to "the Soo" to live with his aunt's family. He worked at a grocery store for $3/week while he finished high school and graduated in 1937. After working another year and building up his savings, Jack decided to pursue his interest in biology and attend Western Michigan University. Shortly after he arrived at Western in the fall of 1939, his cousin introduced Jack to her roommate, Rita I. Minar. Jack and Rita dated through college and became engaged on Valentine's Day 1943. After graduating with a B.A. from Western in 1943, Jack served with the U. S. Army Medical Corps in Europe during World War II. He returned home and married Rita on March 17, 1945. Jack and Rita moved to Paw Paw in 1947. Jack established a career in public heath. He earned his Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan in 1950 and served in various capacities and leadership roles with the Michigan Health Departments in Van Buren County and southwest Michigan. Jack's career began to go in a new direction in 1967 when he joined the National Sanitation Foundation staff on a project to develop a national education program for sanitation technicians. In 1968, Jack joined the Ferris State University faculty as Assistant Professor of Environmental Health. He was Professor and Department Head of the FSU Environmental Quality Programs from 1972 until he retired in 1982. During his career and into his retirement, Jack was involved in many community and professional organizations. To name just a few-Jack served on the Big Rapids Township Zoning Board from 1968 to 2008; he was an active member and elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Paw Paw and the United Church of Big Rapids; he was past president of the Ferris Emeriti Association and served on the Ferris Alumni Board; he was past chairman of both the Michigan and National Environmental Health Associations. His awards for achievement and service were many- including being named Sanitarian of the Year in 1966 by the Michigan Sanitarian Association and receiving the Mecosta County Northern Lights Environment Award in 2004. Jack is survived by his wife and soul mate, Rita; sons, John M. Fleming (Sue VerMeulen) of Douglas, and Gary G. Fleming of Big Rapids; grandchildren, Jennifer (Doc) Proctor of Big Rapids, Scott (Denise) Fleming of Corvallis OR, Holly (Zack) Krebs of Los AngelesCA, Jay Fleming (Molly Beer) of Kalamazoo, and Kelly Fleming of San Francisco CA; great-grandson, Jason Rogers of Big Rapids. A memorial celebration of Jack's life will be held Sunday, December 19 at 1:30 in the United Church, 120 S. State Street, Big Rapids. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests tribute gifts be made to Ferris State University for the John R. "Jack" Fleming Allied Health Scholarship. Checks can be mailed to FSU at 420 Oak Street, PRK 101, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307. Arrangements entrusted to Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids.
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