Fleming, John Lawrence 1927-2012

FLEMING, SHEESLEY, PLATE, THOMAS, BAETHKE, RICHMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/5/2017 at 16:03:26

John Lawrence Fleming
Montezuma
May 7, 1927 - September 29, 2012

Lawrence Fleming, 85 of Montezuma, died Saturday, September 29, 2012. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 2, with the family present from 6 to 8 PM. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Grinnell Regional Hospice or Shriner's Hospital KAABA Chapter of Davenport.

John Lawrence Fleming was born on May 7, 1927 near Taintor, Iowa the son of John Lloyd and Phoebe C. Sheesley Fleming. Lawrence graduated from Montezuma High School in 1944 then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945. He served in WW II as a Navy Seaman. After being honorably discharged he returned home and began work as a farm hand for a short period. Later Lawrence began working for Poweshiek County Maintenance Department. After 41 years he retired in 1989.

Lawrence married Allene Plate in Nashua, Iowa on May 8, 1954. He enjoyed raising his family and attending all of their activities and those of his grandchildren. His great sense of humor was a valuable lesson to them all. He especially enjoyed watching high school football and volunteered on the chain gain for football games for 25 years. Lawrence played solitare to keep his mind sharp. He loved attending the Iowa State Fair and watching Iowa Hawkeye games. He was also honored to be a part of an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He was an active member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Linda Thomas; his son-in-law Gene Baethke; two brothers, Roy and Dale Fleming and his sister, Aunty Eleanor Fleming.

Lawrence is survived by his wife Allene Fleming of Montezuma, three sons: Gregory (Diana) Fleming of Montezuma, Ron Richman of Skiatook, Oklahoma, Rick (Pam) Richman of Tigard, Oregon; his daughter Karen Baethke of Montezuma; and a son-in-law Bill Thomas of What Cheer; nineteen grandchildren and thirty one great grandchildren and other relatives and his many friends. ~ tThe Des Moines (IA) Register Tues 02 Oct 2012.