- Date Of Birth: April 25, 1925
- Date Of Death: January 14, 2014
- State: Nebraska
CALVIN LeROY FLANAGIN April 25, 1925 a” January 14, 2014
Calvin LeRoy Flanagin was born on April 25, 1925, in Pawnee City, Nebraska to Iiron Flanagin and Laura Siske Flanagin. His mother died in 1928 from tuberculosis when Calvin was a toddler and Calvin also contracted the illness and as a result was sent to live in Colorado for nearly three (3) years at a sanitarium until he recovered from such disease. When Calvin returned to his family, he lived with his father and stepmother, Mildred Avery, and step-brother, Russell Stone, while his sister, Alberta lived across the road with their grandparents, Rudolph and Rosalina Siske. Calvin’s father and step-mother had five more children, James, David, Lewis, Gary, and Charleen, and all of the children attended Gravel Hill Country School in rural Pawnee County southeast of Pawnee City before completing their education in Pawnee City Public Schools. Previous to the outbreak of World War II Iiron and Mildred moved with their family to California to work with Iiron’s brother, John Flanagin.
As a result of this move, on his 16th birthday, Calvin went with his father to a Navy enlistment center and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1941. Following his completion of boot camp at San Diego, Calvin was shipped to Pearl Harbor where he was awaiting assignment to the U.S.S. Texas on December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked the United States by bombing Pearl Harbor. Calvin served in the United States Navy on various ships throughout World War II and his service included being in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres of war. Calvin was honorably discharged from the Navy on April 25, 1946.
While in the Navy, Calvin met his future wife, Cecilia Agnes Gilbert in New Orleans and they were married on January 12, 1945. After Calvin’s discharge from the Navy Cecilia and he lived in New Orleans where Calvin worked as a stevedore and in an auto body shop before they moved to California where he worked on a ranch and later as an oil field worker. During these years they enjoyed the birth of their son, David Edward on August 19, 1949 and Katherine Laura on May 10, 1952.
In 1957 Calvin and Cecilia moved back to Pawnee City with their children and Calvin began working in a rock quarry for Hopper Brother and he worked in this capacity as a skilled welder and foreman for more than thirty years until his retirement. Calvin also owned and operated the Parkside Drive-Inn for a short time until he commenced his next career in lawn mowing. Until shortly before his death, Calvin took great pride in mowing the lawns of many persons in Pawnee City and the surrounding area and enjoyed his interaction with all of his customers.
Calvin’s greatest love was for his country and his greatest pride was gained from his military service in the United States Navy during World War II. He devoted much time and resources to recognizing our nations’ veterans. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post No. 168 in Pawnee City, as well as a lifetime member of Veteran of Foreign Wars Post No. 5289 in Pawnee City and he served in leadership positions in both organizations. He was one of the organizers of the Pawnee County Avenue of Flags and worked tirelessly on this event to help raise the American flags on every national holiday to bring the service of our veterans to the public’s attention. He recently attended the dedication of the Pawnee County Veterans Memorial and took great pride in this event.
Besides his son David and daughter Katherine, Calvin’s survivors include their spouses Gayle Flanagin and Steve Mercure. Grandchildren Shane Mercure, Nicholas Mercure, Megan Johnson, Mary Margaret Mercure, Dr. David Flanagin, Sara Pemberton, Mary Catherine Flanagin, Michael Flanagin, Katie Santibanez, Great Grandchildren Christopher Mercure, Benjamin Mercure, Cecilia Mercure, Addylen Mercure, Linnea Grace Johnson, Paige Pemberton, Jack Pemberton, Isabella Polson-Flanagin, Julie Polson-Flanagin, and Jordan Santibanez. Calvin also had one great great grandchild Jayden Mercure.
