John Charles Fluegel, age 96, of Mitchell, SD (formerly of Alexandria, SD) died Wednesday, December 16, 2020 under hospice care surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday, December 19, 2020 at St. Mary of Mercy Catholic Church in Alexandria, SD, Visitation will be an hour prior to the service and burial will be at St. Mary of Mercy Cemetery in Alexandria, SD.  Masks are mandatory for the Mass.

John Charles Fluegel, son of Charles Edward and Dorothy, (Bates) Fluegel, was born October 10, 1924 in Salem, SD. He lived his first years in Canistota where he attended grade school, until the family moved to a farm near Salem. John attended his 8 ^th grade at a rural country school and then graduated from high school in Salem in 1942. He enrolled and attended at SDSC in 1942 and 1943 until his father needed assistance on the farm. John worked on the family farm until he was drafted into the US Army in 1945. He served in the Army of Occupation in Germany until he was honorably discharged in 1947.

He had become very interested in flying and enrolled into the Bill of Rights Flight School in Mitchell, SD. John received his private Pilot's License in June of 1947. The flight school closed shortly before he could qualify for his commercial license. He then entered the US Civil Service in November of 1947 and moved to Huron, SD and was employed by the Department of Interior as Chief of Communications and Records.

John was united in marriage with Viola Jarding, the daughter of Lawrence and Anna (Schroeder) Jarding, on June 14, 1948 in Alexandria, SD. Their first daughter, Jacqueline (Jacque) was born in Huron. The couple moved back to Alexandria in 1951, where their son, Steve and daughter Kathy joined the family. John worked as a truck driver and butter maker for the Hanson County Creamery for eleven years.

In 1961 a new business, M&R Dietetic Plant opened in Mitchell, SD and John was employed as an instant formula processor making Similac baby food. The plant closed operations in Mitchell and John transferred in 1973 to Columbus, OH. While in Columbus, OH he worked as an Analytical Lab Tech at Ross Labs. (later merged with Abbott Lab) John retired from Abbot in 1989.

John enjoyed those retirement years doing yard work, various road trips to visit children and their families. Several trips to Hawaii, cruising the Panama Canal, and a trip to Europe. He was an avid reader, enjoyed watching sports, loved good music and visiting friends and relatives.

Grateful for having shared his life are wife of 72 years, Vi, Mitchell, SD; their children, Jacque (Donald) Flattem, Davenport, IA, Steve (Nancy) Fluegel, Highland Village, TX, Kathy Dexheimer, Overland Park, KS; grandchildren, Michael (Jessie) Flattem, Evan (Tamara) Fluegel, Alex Fluegel, Chelsea Fluegel, Megan Dexheimer and Lorresa Flattem; great grandchildren, Alexa and Anthony Flattem, Austin, Cole and Delaney Fluegel; a sister, Mary Lou (Fluegel) Beath; plus many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dale; and a grandson, Patrick.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Boys Town or St Judes.