Carol Jean Flanagan's Obituary
Carol Jean Donovan Flanagan, 86, of Oshkosh, passed away on Holy Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Evergreen Retirement Community. She was born the middle of three children to John Leo and Rhoda Averbeck Donovan in Van Dyne, Wisconsin. Her childhood on the farm with the yellow barn next to the viaduct instilled many attributes that served her well throughout her life. Educated in a one room grade school in Van Dyne, she was a graduate of Fond du Lac High School and The University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh with a degree in Elementary Education. While at the university, she met her partner in life, Fintan Martin Flanagan, and married on June 28, 1952. Carol taught in Milwaukee while Fint finished Law School. They soon moved back to Oshkosh where Carol taught grade school for two more years until the first of her five children was born- the start of many busy chapters in her life. As the children became more independent, Carol Jean, or KK as she was known to many, began a successful real estate acquisition and management company, a career she truly loved and at which she excelled. All of this while extensively giving back to her community through dedicated leadership to her children’s schools, activities, her greater community and her church. Upon retirement she and Fint enjoyed 25 years as residents of Naples Florida, where they were equally active and made many lasting friendships. Somewhere in there KK managed to be crowned Miss Oshkosh, Mrs. Oshkosh and the Cherry Pie queen. There was always time for golf, bridge (lots of bridge), card games with grandchildren, Klondike bars, and extensive world travel – a love she passed on to her grandchildren through one-on-one “Grandma KK” trips with each of them while she was able. Her fun loving and mischievous personality will be missed by all.
Carol Jean is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Fintan M. Flanagan, and her children, Michael F. Flanagan of Norwich Vermont and his children Meghan, Carrie and Ryan; Kathryn Flanagan Bermingham, her husband, John of Oshkosh and their children Margaret Bermingham Black and John E.(Jack) Bermingham; her son in law J. Kevin Donovan of Ft Lauderdale Florida and his children Sean P. Donovan and Brennan R. Donovan; Sally Flanagan Cashin, her husband Patrick of Elm Grove, Wisconsin and their children, Katie, Shannon and Luke; and James P. Flanagan, his wife Angie of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and their children, Keely, Brian, Logan, Ethan and Molly. She is further survived by her sister, Marion Noffke and her brother, Robert Donovan and their children,
In her passing, Carol Jean joins those whom proceeded her in death: her beloved daughter, Susan Flanagan Donovan, her parents, her brother-in-law, Henry C. Noffke and her sister in Law, Nanette Donovan. She was also preceded in death by Fintan’s brother, Brendan Flanagan and his wife Mary Dale Flanagan, and Fint’s sister and her husband, Coletta and Fred Fuchs, Jr.
The family will receive visitors from 9:00 until 11:30 on Saturday April 22, 2017 at Fiss and Bills Funeral Home 865 S. Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54904. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at noon at St. Raphael the Archangel Parish 830 S. Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54904, celebrated by the Rev. Douglas LaCaptain. A private burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Oshkosh. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be directed to St. Raphael the Archangel Parish; or The Flanagan Fund, at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, 302 Ohio Street, Oshkosh, WI 54904, to be used for charitable giving in KK’s memory.
What’s your fondest memory of Carol?
What’s a lesson you learned from Carol?
Share a story where Carol's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Carol you’ll never forget.
How did Carol make you smile?