Feb. 15, 1928-May 26, 2016
Visitation: 1-2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar. Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, funeral home. Burial: Lindley Prairie Cemetery, Bear Creek.
Mr. Fleeman, 88, Fair Play, was born in Dade County to Earnest William “Pete” and Flossie Omega (Chism) Fleeman. He died Thursday, May 26.
He attended Hartley and Bethel schools in Cedar County. He accepted Christ at and early age. Moving to Polk County, he attended Potts and Fair Play schools. At the age of 14, he started working at Luther Hudson’s Grocery Store in Fair Play. In 1944, he entered the U.S. Merchant Marines and served 2 years. He joined the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada Oct. 27, 1947. He was a member of the Local Pipe Fitters Union 533 of Kansas City.
In the early ’50s, he and his dad owned and operated the feed and grocery store in Fair Play.
He and Joetta (Akins) were united in marriage in the home of the Rev. Lewis Mead in Fair Play May 8, 1948. Three children were born — Rodney Keith, James Robert and Patricia Ann.
He held the position of mechanical superintendent at the Stockton Dam. He assisted in the installation of the first underground communications system for the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, and was project manager for the Paragon Mechanical Company of Kansas City the last 17 years of employment, retiring in June 1980. He was mayor of Fair Play for two terms and served on the city board.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Joetta; a son, James Robert and wife Carol; a daughter, Patricia Ann Roark and husband Johnny; a daughter-in-law, Josephine Fleeman all of Bolivar; six grandchildren, Ronda Hall and husband Randy, Jason Roark and wife Rachel, Brandon Roark and wife Abigail, Valerie Hooten and husband Doug, Jonathan Fleeman and wife Anna and Roger Fleeman and wife Wendy; 14 great-grandchildren, Jaden Roark, Bailey and Weston Hall, Logan and Landon Fleeman, Logan, Beckham and Elizabeth Roark, Ashley Fleeman, Abigayle Roark, Allyson and Mykaela Davis, Kyle Hooten and wife Rose and Anna Hooten; two sisters, Velma Vance of Bolivar and Dean Courtney of Springfield; a brother, Darell Fleeman of Nixa; seven nieces; a nephew; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a son, Rodney; his mother and father; a brother, Gary; two brothers-in-law, Frank Lyman and Dale Vance; a sister-in-law, Patsy Fleeman; and a niece, Diane Curl.
