Date of Birth:
Thursday, March 2, 1933
Date of Death:
Friday, April 8, 2022
Age:
89 years old

Daniel E. Flugel

Daniel Flugel left this earth surrounded by his loving family on April 8, 2022, at the age of 89 in Rochester, Minnesota.

Born in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1933, to Lucy & Henry Flugel—second to the youngest of 9 children. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1952 and was stationed in France, where he met & married Ginette Ferry and they raised 5 children together.

During his 20-year military career he worked as an auto mechanic for the fleet, held positions at the Strategic Air Command Center, and became an instructor for new enlistees. During basic training he attained sharpshooter designation. He achieved rank of a technical sergeant performing highly complex duties in addition to providing supervision.

Upon retirement, Dan embarked upon his own business, owning a full-service Citgo station where he provided auto repair and snow removal services. Over the years he worked for several car dealerships and an ambulance company. After civilian retirement, he branched out to other ventures including serving as a shuttle driver for a local hotel; and as an aide for Family Services, working with troubled youth.

Dan was known for his sense of humor and love of golf and chess. He taught his grandchildren the finer points of chess and played countless games—-even with those who lived far away. He wrote letters and would include moves to play a game over the miles! As the computer age blossomed, he grew right alongside and played chess with those around the world. Dan freely shared his gifts of photography through electronic and paper greeting cards & calendars of his own design.  He was also an avid fisherman and ensured family fun with yearly summer vacations in the Finger Lakes, the scenic playground of central New York.

As a teen, he and his brothers, brothers in law, and nephews helped their father build a cottage at Chaumont Bay. Many fond memories were made there including bonfires, fishing, and endless rounds of a favorite card game, euchre that the adults played into the evening, as the kids drifted off to sleep.

Dan worked hard for his family and enjoyed renovating, building, and tending to anything needing repair. His sense of humor and easy-going nature brought ready laughter and ease to others; he cultivated a deep wisdom, strength, and resolve, which will live on in each of us. Dan loved his family unconditionally. He will be dearly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lucy & Henry Flugel, and siblings, Mae, Betty, Dick, Marie, and Bob.

He is survived by his brother Don and sisters Fran & Dolores; children: Mary Ann Bradley (Dan), Steve Flugel, Sandy Nortung (Michael), Kathy Flugel Colle (Tom), and Laura Thompson (Barry); grandchildren: Nicholas, Travis, Andrew, Anthony, Sarah, Adam, Hannah (Geoffrey), Anna, Danica (Simon), Erik, Jacob, Joel (Angie), Brian, Justin, Ben, Morgan (Eli), and Abby, and great-grandchildren: Anthony, Giavanna, Zoey, Asher, Leon, Clare, Sebastian, and Leo; and his beloved dog, Jasper.