Vernon & Phyllis Fleck

FLECK HUNT MANZER HAY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/27/2010 at 21:40:54

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Vernon and Phyllis Fleck
By Phyllis Manzer Fleck

Vernon Francis Fleck was born on January 11, 1922, in Sioux City, Iowa. He is the son of Carl B Fleck and Maude E Hunt (See Carl Fleck Family) and is of German descent. He attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School, West Junior, and Central High. He carried newspapers as a boy and later worked for Skolovsky Grocery, Grand Jewelers and Hansen Glass and Paint Company. In April of 1938 he met Phyllis Elizabeth Manzer, born October 23, 1922, in Sioux City, also of German descent. She is the daughter of Lawrence E Manzer (See Harvey Manzer Family) and Lucy Bell Hay (See Andrew Hay Family). They discovered that they were both born in the 2500 block of East First Street, nine months apart. After three and a half years of courting and after graduation, they married on July 12, 1941, in St Boniface Church. In Novembe rof the same year, Vernon became very sick and lost the sight of his left eye.

On July 4, 1942, their first daughter was born. Charlene Antoinette ‘Sherry’. Vernon had recovered from his surgery and was working for Hansen Glass and Paint when World War II arrived requesting his service. The Army assigned him to the Guard and Service Company at Fort Levenworth. After the birth of the second child, Larry Carl, on July 27, 1943, Phyllis and the two babies boarded a train and joined him in Levenworth, Kansas, for a year. He was then assigned to the Medics in the Atlantic and Pacific staging areas for three and a half years. After his discharge, he went back to Hansen Glass and Paint for twenty-seven years until they closed in June of 1968. He was then employed by Sherman Williams Paint Company for nine years until they closed. Presntly he is a foreman at Diamond Vogel Paint Center.

They had three more children: Stephen Michael, born January 17, 1946; Linda Lee, born June 9, 1948; and Donna Rae born June 27, 1950. All five children attended St Boniface Grade School and are graduates of Heelan High School.

Sherry worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone for ten years during which time she married Gordon D Weber on May 29, 1965. They adopted Stephanie Ann at birth. Stephanie was born December 23, 1971, and attends St Paul’s Lutheran School. Sherry and Gordon divorced on February 4, 1975. She is the Zoning Administrator and Civil Service Personnel Director for Woodbury County. Gordon is a Social Work Supervisor with the Iowa Department of Human Services in the County of Woodbury. Sherry is a serious person with a number of interests. She enjoys the field of arts, traveling, and the finer things in life.

Larry has always been in the restaurant business which is what took him to Spicer, Minnesota, where he met and married Janet I Bloomquist on December 28, 1962. They now live in Regal, Minnesota, where they own and operate the Pilgrim Inn. Their five children were born in Wilmar, Minneapolis. Pieper Ann Ann, born July 7, 1963, attends the University of Minnesota in her third year. Kirsta Marie, born August 8, 1965, is in her first year at Mankato State University. Steven Francis, born July 21, 1967, attends Paynesville High School with his brother, Trevor Jon, born August 2, 1969. Jennifer Jill, born July 22, 1971, attends Paynesville Middle School. Larry is a business and community minded person. He and his family enjoy a variety of sports.

Stephen is musically inclined with an enjoy-life personality. He served in the war in Viet Nam in the Army Engineers from May 5, 1966, until March 1, 1968; then set up stores for Gibson and Target for six years and later attended school on electronics and refrigeration. He presently is a maintenance supervisor for Rustco Poducts in Thornton, Colorado, where he resides.

Linda is a licensed cosmetologist working part time for her mother and full time for Coca Cola Bottling Company in Sioux City. She married Duane L Mullins on June 6, 1970. Duane is the Manager of Inland Truck Parts in Sioux City. They live in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and have four sons: Brandon Lee, born November 22, 1970; Chad Michael, born October 18, 1971; Blake Raymond, born April 4, 1978; and Derek Francis, born January 15, 1982. The three older boys attend St Michael’s Grade School in South Sioux City City. Linda is a loyal and accepting person with many close friends.

Donna Rae married Warren D Krupke and lived in Prior Lake, Minnesota. They divorced on July 5, 1976, and Donna returned to Sioux City with her two daughters: Heather Marie, born October 19, 1972, and Amy Elizabeth, born March 9, 1975. They attend Everett Grade School. Donna worked as a teacher in Region IV in South Sioux City and is presently employed by the Woodbury County Care Facility. Donna is inclined to extend her hand to persons less fortunate. She and her children are extremely fond of animals and always have a variety of pets.

After eighteen years of raising their family, Phyllis pursued a life-long ambition. She returned to school to obtain a license as a cosmetologist, after which time she opened and still operates her own beauty shop in their home. She and Vernon still devote much of their life to their children and grandchildren and are both looking forward to their retirement. They share interests in genealogy, history (particularly Sioux City history), antiques, and enjoy the peacefullness that nature and camping offers. Vernon is an ingenious person – skilled and versatile in the trades. Phyllis is very creative. Among her many interests, she especially enjoys flowers, cooking, and fabric creations of all varieties.