Mr. Robert "Bob" Leo Fleckenstein Sr.

To Robert Leo Fleckenstein, Sr., the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Bob, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Bob really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Bob was born on January 19, 1926 at Father Puke's home in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were Leo Fleckenstein and Luella Wessel Fleckenstein. Bob was raised in Fairmount, a township of Cincinnati, Ohio. Even as a child, Bob had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Bob was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Bob managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Bob was raised with six siblings. He had three older sisters, Bernice, Alberta and Lillian and three brothers, Milton, Eugene, and Russell.

      All of Bob's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Bob experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in stick ball. In his spare time he liked to ride his bicycle.

      Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Bob was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Bob simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Bob, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Bob's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was math. He was a good student, so when he was drafted, the principal recommended that he be allowed to graduate first.

      Bob reveled in his college years, where his imagination could run free. He was viewed by many of his classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Bob was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. He was a jovial person who loved to share his passion for fun with others. But for Bob, life was not a case of all play and no work. Bob relished the task of putting his imagination to work in class. He was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. He took a few classes on his GI Bill from the University of Cincinnati.

      Bob never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Bob to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Bob delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Bob was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Bob utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Ernie Wessel. Later in life, he became friends with Sweeny and Brownie. Bob loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Bob very easy to approach. On August 9, 1953 Bob exchanged wedding vows with Mary Ann Plavsic at St. Bernard's Church of Dayton, Kentucky. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Bob related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Bob was blessed with seven children, Karen, Susan, Pam, Robin, Diana, Regina and Bob, Jr. They were also blessed with seventeen grandchildren, Stephanie and Amy Stolz (Karen), Bethany and Joey Neal (Pam), Courtney, Amanda and Sam Kelly (Robin), Nick, Chris and Ben Holthaus (Diana), Billy, Andy and Alexis Webster (Regina), Garrett, Leah, Karly, and Mallory Fleckenstein (Bob, Jr.). Bob had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Bob's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Bob had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Bob was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Bob liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Bob was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Bob's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Bob as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was transportation salesman. He was employed for Arkansas Best Frieght.

      Bob was an Army veteran. Bob saw action for the Pacific World War II Conflict. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Infantry man. He received several awards including a Purple Heart.

      Bob enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Bob liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were carpentry and remodeling. Bob was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Bob felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Bob loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Bob relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Bob never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included bowling and gold. Bob was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.

      Bob had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Bob's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. Throughout his later years, Bob was an active member of St. Bernard's church council, The Kentucky Wheels, Disabled American Veterans, and the condo association at Signal Hill.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Bob recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of St. Thomas Parish for forty years.

      Naturally outgoing and generous, Bob was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Bob was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included National Sales Awards and the Kentucky Colonels.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Bob just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Hawaii, Las Vegas, Colorado, Myrtle Beach, Boca Raton, Cape Cod and a Mexican Cruise.

      Bob was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Bob's favorites was Coco. They were best friends for eight years. His family was rounded out by his other dogs, Cleo and Suzette.

      Bob believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in when he was 72., Bob took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Wilder, Kentucky to condo living. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Bob remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in the condo association and dining out. Even in retirement, Bob continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Bob passed away on April 30, 2013 at Atria, Summit View. He is survived by his children, Karen, Pam, Robin, Diana, Regina, and Bob, Jr.; his grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and his brothers, Eugene and Russell. Services were held at St. Thomas Church. Bob was laid to rest in St. Stephens Cemetery in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

      Bob brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Robert Leo Fleckenstein Sr. lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

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Robert Leo Fleckenstein, Sr., 87, of Wilder, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2013.

Born January 19, 1926 in Cincinnati, OH, he was the son of the late Leo and Luella Fleckenstein. Bob was a decorated veteran of WWII, top caliber salesman in the transportation industry, and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose humor never failed to cause a smile or a groan.

He is survived by his children, Karen Stolz, Pamela Neal, Robin Kelly, Diana Holthaus, Regina Webster and Robert L. Fleckenstein, Jr., 17 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and two brothers, Eugene and Russell.

In addition to his parents, Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Fleckenstein (nee Plavsic) with whom he shared a love story that began with yellow roses on a Valentine’s day in 1953; daughter, Susan Fleckenstein; and one brother, Milton Fleckenstein and sisters Alberta Richey, Bernice Schellenberger, and Lillian Ochs.