Date of Birth: September 10, 1930
Date of Death: February 15, 2019
John Flegel was born Sept. 10, 1930, on NE-20-19-6-W2 in the Mariahilf district of Saskatchewan to August and Johanna (Klein) Flegel.
He was baptized at Grayson and received First Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church in Killaly. He attended Mariahilf School from grades 1 to 9, but John loved the land so he decided to quit school and work on the home farm, part of which was the valley.
In 1951 he came down with polio; for four years, he could not do very much. With the help of therapy and exercise, he recovered to a degree and felt he could run his own farm.
In 1958 John bought a farm in the valley in the RM of Elcapo. He ran a successful livestock operation until 1971, when allergies forced him to sell out. John bought two quarters of land and tried his hand at grain farming; however, allergies persisted so in 1975, the cultivated acres were rented out.
John continued to live on the farm, doing odd jobs and caring for the St. Elizabeth Church yard and cemetery. He also found time for his favourite sport, hunting.
In 2004 John sold out and moved to Sunset Lodge in Killaly. In 2015 he became a resident of St. Paul Lutheran Home in Melville where he resided until his passing.
John is predeceased by his parents, August and Johanna Flegel; brothers George, Daniel and, in infancy, Joseph and Michael; sister Ottilia; brother-in-law Jean Cardinal and sister-in-law Magdalena Flegel.
John is survived by his sister, Anne Flegel; his brother, August (Cecile) Flegel; his sister-in-law, Frances Flegel; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, at St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, Killaly, with the Very Rev. John Mock V.F. presiding, assisted by Deacon Dave Hudy. The Eucharistic minister was Orville Rogalski and the altar server was Murray Krieger. The Flegel family provided the music, including John’s brother, August, who sang a hymn in German to honour his brother’s memory. Other participants in the service included cross bearer Christopher
Kondzielewski, lectors Dominic Flegel and Katherine Flegel, cantor Paul Flegel, intercession readers Robert Cardinal and Joanne McMillan, gift bearers Layelle Flegel and Cassandra Kondzielewski and usher Michael Flegel.
Interment took place in St. Elizabeth Parish Cemetery with Mark Flegel acting as urn bearer.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville
