Gary Fleischmann

GARY FLEISCHMANN SEATTLE, WA -- Gary LeRoy Fleischmann, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died on April 28th, 2010, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, after a valiant battle with cancer. He will be dearly missed. Gary was born in Tacoma, WA on December 16, 1945 to LeRoy Leonard Fleischmann and Esther Durfee Fleischmann, and was the oldest of three children. His youth was spent in many locations around the northwest where his father, a dam engineer, worked on new projects every few years. Gary graduated from Butte High School in Arco, ID and married Christine Rose Wanstrom on September 7, 1965. He studied drafting and architecture, and became a skilled project manager and estimator in the electrical contracting business. He and his father opened ElectriCon, an Idaho Falls based company which they operated for 22 years, and Gary became the first president of the Idaho chapter of the National Electrical Contracting Association. In 2000, his career brought him to the Everett, WA area, where most recently he worked as a senior estimator at ElCon in Mukilteo. He enjoyed his work tremendously, and was considered an expert in his field, developing estimates, bids, and software that helped his company succeed in large-scale projects, including Seattle’s light rail development. His greatest pride, however, was his three children, Pamela, Angela, and Eric. He was a loving father who involved himself in his children’s various activities and groups, especially in the Boy Scouts of America. Gary was Scoutmaster for Troop 382, and received many recognitions and honors over the years, including the elite Silver Beaver, scouting’s highest honor for distinguished service. Gary also took great delight in being a grandfather. He was famous for playing jokes and teasing his five grandchildren, and coming up with new ways to challenge their minds. Some of his jokes and stories went on for years and years, as he always liked to keep them guessing what he was up to! Gary also had a wide variety of hobbies and interests, including computers, music, camping, rafting, building model railroads, playing pinochle, watching the Mariners, musical theater, Dutch oven cooking, and taking day trips on weekends to explore the area he lived in. He was also active in his church, Cedar Cross United Methodist. Gary is survived by his wife, Rose Fleischmann; his mother, Esther Fleischmann; his daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Darren Oke; his daughter, Angela Fleischmann; his son and daughter-in-law, Eric Fleischmann and Airica Staley; his sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Oliver Hartwig; grandchildren Lauren Oke, Kylie Oke, Brandon Oke, Aidan Fleischmann and Errol Fleischmann; and over thirty nieces and nephews and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his father LeRoy Fleischmann and his brother Dale Fleischmann. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2010 at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue. Burial with a graveside service will follow at Fielding Memorial Park under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, 175 Airport Road Blackfoot, ID 83221-1530. ---------------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Lin & Arlene Pearson pearsonlhas@gmail.com Rose and family, So sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Laurel and Gay Willis mommasix@gmail.com Dear Rose, Pam, Angela, and Eric, We are saddened to hear of Gary's passing. You may not remember us, but we knew your family through Boy Scouts and 4-H and school. We have often thought of your family since you moved from Bower and have hoped you were all OK. We will be out of town on the weekend, so we will miss sharing our sympathy with you at Gary's funeral. Please accept our condolences and love. Laurel and Gay Willis Dane & Sherry Watkins Dear Rose & Family, We want to send our condolences on the recent passing of your husband & father. He will be missed by all who knew him. He was a great person, and his outstanding accomplishments in the community will always be remembered. Sincerely, Dane & Sherry Watkins Gavin McGimpsey I was one of the last scouts to join Troop 382 while Mr. Fleischmann was scoutmaster. He was a big reason I joined, and I wouldn't have earned my Eagle were it not for his kind introduction to Scouting years beforehand. His warmth and care for all of us were appreciated greatly, and I'm thankful to have made his acquaintance. He'll be missed.