John Timothy Flanagan, 63, of Helena, passed away Saturday of cancer at the Big Sky Care Center in Helena. A United States Army veteran, John fought a courageous, five-year battle with Mantel Cell Lymphoma.
John was born on March 12, 1948, in Los Angeles, California, the son of John and Amanda Flanagan. Both parents preceded him in death by the time he turned 18 years old.
John grew up in Los Angeles where he attended local schools. He received an associate’s degree at San Luis Obispo Junior College and later received a certification in computer science.
As Army SP4 Flanagan, he served in Korea at the DMZ in 1968 and 1969 There, he served as a water purification specialist in the Heavy Equipment Platoon of the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.
He worked as a building contractor restoring historic buildings and homes for many years in California before moving to Montana in 1991. In Helena, he restored Victorian homes, as well as the floor of the Montana Governor’s Office in the Capitol. John was also known for his perfectionism and would painstakingly refinish everything from antique furniture to the windows of an historic barn.
John had a great passion for hunting and fishing that began as a child when he would visit cousins at their ranch in Wolf Creek. He took many hunting trips with close friends and was fondly known as “sniper Flan,” for his great marksmanship. He also enjoyed serving as gunsmith for all his friends who needed hunting rifles cleaned and repaired each year.
John was a member of St. Helena’s Cathedral Parish as well as the Helena Gun Club.
John is survived by the Wirth family of Montana. He is also survived by his many friends. The family would like to express gratitude to all those who helped John through his extended illness including the doctors and staff at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Harrison.
John will always be remembered for his kindness and willingness to help his friends.
A Liturgy of the Word will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 25, 2011 at Retz Funeral Home Chapel in Helena. Interment with military honors will follow at the Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery at Fort Harrison. A reception will be held after the graveside service at the Brondel Center in the lower level of the Cathedral of St. Helena. To offer a condolence or share a memory of John, please visit: www.retzfuneralhome.com.
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Scott Connole says
Sniper Flan may you rest in peace. I will never forget the times we shared hunting, fishing,reloading and shooting, lunches together…you were a great friend. You will always stay close to my heart. Thank for touching my life in such a special way 🙂
Jason Swant says
I’ll miss seeing you up at the PPSA gun range.
Prickly Pear Sprotsman's Association says
Flanagan, your passing is a big loss to all of us here at the Prickly Pear Sportsman’s Association. We are greatful to have had you as a member and will miss you at our events.
Captain Phil Steward says
John “Flan” served under my Command in 1968-69 in Korea. I was proud to be his Platoon Leader in the 2nd Engineer Battalion’s Heavy Equipment (Heavy Junk) Platoon.
John was always willing to take on any task detailed to him and he was a good friend to several men in the Unit. He worked hard and took great pride in his work.
Flan’s Tour of Duty in this life is now complete. He was a fine man and a fine soldier. We, his military brothers will miss him but we are grateful for having known him.
His huge circle of friends will long cherish the time they spent with Flan. I met a few of them who were by his side when he went Home and I am so thankful they were there with him.
Thank you Phil, Judy, Gary and your wife, Jeff and all the staff at Big Sky Care Center for welcoming me there during John’s last days and for treating John, and this Old Soldier with great kindness.
May God bless John as he joins his parents and his military brothers on His Golden Streets. And may God grant those left here Peace and Comfort knowing John now joins God’s Legion of Angels in a place where there is no war, no pain, no sickness and no Agent Orange.
Phil Steward,
Captain (former)
2nd Engineer Battalion,
2nd Infantry Division,
Korea – 1968-69
Jim Montemorano says
My sincere condolences to John’s dear friends and family.
May God grant him eternal peace with
all our departed comrades.
E/2EN/2ID 68-69
Roger Cook says
RIP brother. I was there in 69/70. Cancers also. You made it home. Enjoy your rest !!
Roxanne Kasselmann says
God Bless you and your family as John moves on to his next challenging life…..
I am a VA Nurse at Fort Harrison who had the great pleasure of serving John until the end. I helped to keep John from something worse than the “C” word and that was the “D” word which stands for “DESPAIR” I think at the end JOhn clinged to his faith and fought despair he knew he had Hope for a new life. Much anxiety on his way, however, something tells me God opened His arms wide open when John finally left to HIm……God Bless yu and your family with a huge loss. Beautiful picture you chose showing John healthy
Robert Land says
God speed my brother.
Mike & Suzanne Stadtmueller says
Rest in peace my brother warrior.
Steve Burns says
So sorry for your loss but he is now in no pain and in a better place.
Rest in Peace bro
Aletta says
I am sorry for your loss. While he can never be replaced, he wil never be forgotten. Someday the loving and courageous memories you have will help to sustain you. May he rest in peace.
Staff SGT Fred Dikker (VN 1968/69) says
I too am suffering the effects of AO, stage four cancer. All veterans are brothers here and where you are now with the Lord. May God bless you and yours forever.
William McGraw says
Condolences to the family, friends and fellow soldiers from Korea service.
Bill McGraw, SP-5, E5
Yongson Garrison
Apr 69–Feb 70
Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Rev Thomas Collier USN (ret) says
The grace of the Lord is now yours.
Don Raines says
May God bless and keep you during this time of sorrow and pain.
Jim Davis says
John, thank you for your service to our Country and a job well done!
God has called you home, and the angels will guide your way.
You’ll guard the streets of heaven with my father till we’re called home and will be together again!
David E Rizer says
May you rest in peace brother and may God shine his love and help to the family during this time.
Sp/5 Jerry Anderson says
John and I served in the Army together in Korea 1968-69 at Hq.& Hq. Co. / Camp Peterson / 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion / 2nd Infantry Division. We worked in the Heavy Equipment Section which put us up on the DMZ much of our time there. John was a good friend of mine. He was friendly to be around at any time. We contacted each other via a Military web site in 2009 and have be corresponding since. We shared many memories and pictures. I will miss talking to my Army buddy. God Speed John. We’ll talk again one day. Your Army Buddy,
Jerry
Rich and Barb Debick says
We will miss our friend John. The times we shared at Prickly Pear, his home, or ours will always hold a special place in our memories. May all who knew and loved him find comfort in knowing he is at peace and his smile will always be there.
Kathy and John Rossetti says
We met Flan in San Luis Obispo in the early 80’s. He came to dinner once and from that point forward we were best friends and “drinkin’ buddies” for 30 years. Flan fought a courageous battle with cancer for five years and it is a relief that his suffering is over. We were lucky to spend the day with Flan in July taking the Gates of the Mountains boat tour near Helena. He was a fighter til the end. It was a pleasure to meet his Helena family and friends at the funeral. Flanagan, you were the real “high roller.” 🙂 RIP from Your Girlfriend and Pie Boy
Jerry Waidner says
Rest in Peace, Flan-
During his San Luis Obispo days John, myself and a third partner were taking WWII mothball fleet destroyers apart, binnacle by officer’s desk near Richmond, CA. We would clean our treasures up and sell them to nautical themed restaurants up and down the coast. John supplied the money and tools, the third guy had the connections, and that left, well, doing all the work. That was my job. Those were great times and we recovered some incredible pieces. Treasured memories after all these years. John was one in a million.