Flaming, Randolph P. (1928-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Mar 26 p. 8

Birth date: 1928 Nov 13

text of obituary:

RANDOLPH P. FLAMING

Randolph P. Flaming, 78, of Bethesda Home in Goessel, Kan., died March 8, 2007, of a stroke after a five-month illness. He was born Nov. 13, 1928, to John G. and Marie Pankratz Flaming in Goessel.

He grew up on a dairy farm east of Goessel and graduated from Goessel High School. On May 20, 1945, he was baptized and became a member of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, where he remained a faithful member until his death.

On May 2, 1950, he married Laura Schmidt. They established their own farm north of Goessel. He was a dairy and crop farmer. Raising animals and tending crops in the field gave him great satisfaction.

His example of serving others, through Mennonite Men and Mennonite Disaster Service, helped his children embrace and live out those values in their own lives. He had a passion for Agri-Urban, and the annual “Day on the Farm” was a highlight for him.

His joy of music was an expression of his faith, and he participated in the bell choir and sang in church choirs and Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus.

Together with Laura he enjoyed travel, whether it was leading bus tours with Prudent Travel or traveling to Poland, Haiti, India or other places in Europe. The circle of family was extended to include international college students, MCC Polish trainees and those in the Gulfport exchange program. His strong will and desire to succeed carried him through the many challenges, including the 1980s farm financial crisis, son Warren’s extended disabilities and death, Laura’s bout with cancer, his own accidents and final illness.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Laura; son Ron and his wife, Patrice, of Akron, Pa., daughter-in-law Cheryl Flaming of Hesston, son Dwight and his wife, Tammy, of Goessel, and daughter Charlotte Warkentine and her husband, Brian, of Chandler, Okla.; two siblings, Melvin Flaming and Marilyn Schmidt; eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by a son, Warren, and two brothers, Vernon and Francis.

Memorial services were held at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. Burial was in Alexanderwohl Mennonite Cemetery.