Fintan M. Flanagan's Obituary
Fintan Martin Flanagan, 97, of Oshkosh, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at his residence at River Mill Condominiums surrounded by family. Despite his unique Irish name, Fintan was an Oshkosh native, born January 26, 1927, the youngest of three children to the late Martin Charles and Mary Ann (Selenske) Flanagan. His early life, marked by the simplicity of growing up without running water, was filled with cherished memories of playing sports on Evans Street- the foundation for his lifelong love of sports and Oshkosh.
Fint attended St. Mary’s Grade School and Oshkosh High School, where he served as Senior Student Council President. He graduated high school in June 1945 and immediately joined the US Army. After graduating Officers Candidate School, the 19-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Infantry was sent to Germany. As part of battalion staff, Fintan was in charge of feeding, clothing and sheltering 4,000 former SS German officers awaiting trial. He also commanded a train transporting 130 war criminals from Germany, behind Russian lines through Czechoslovakia to Russian occupied Poland, as he gathered intelligence for the precursor of the CIA. He later continued his service in the Wisconsin National Guard for 14 years, becoming Intelligence Officer of the 2nd Bn, 127 Inf, 32 Division and retiring as a Captain.
After completing his US Army service in May 1947, Fintan returned to Oshkosh and pursued higher education at Oshkosh State Teachers College (now UW Oshkosh) and Marquette University Law School on the GI Bill. While in college at Oshkosh, he met the love of his life, fellow student and beauty queen, Carol Jean Donovan (“KK”). They married in June 1952 in North Fond du Lac. While at Marquette, Fint proudly represented the Law School in the National Moot Court Contest for two years and was associate editor and contributing author of the Marquette Law Review, earning his JD in June of 1953. The couple returned to Oshkosh, where Fintan began practicing law and they started a family on Mt. Vernon Street. As their family expanded, Fintan and Carol Jean moved to Washington Avenue where they raised their five children, of whom they were both very proud.
Fintan grew his law practice over the years, starting under the wing of Dan Hilderbrand, and later senior partner in his own law practice. He developed the Armory place subdivision and co-developed Westhaven Golf Course and subdivision with Bob Stauffer. Fintan served as Oshkosh City Attorney from 1955 to 1964, involved with the replacement of the Mayor-Alderman system of government to the Council-City Manager system. He practiced law in Oshkosh for over 35 years.
Fintan’s Catholic faith was a cornerstone throughout his life. Fintan enjoyed being social and was known to tell stories to his friends, family, coffee group, golf buddies, or whomever would listen. He and Carol Jean enjoyed golf, backyard pool parties, world travel, and especially playing bridge and cards with family and friends. After their children were grown with children of their own, a highlight of each summer for many years was ‘Camp Flanagan’ where their children took turns hosting the family gathering in their backyards, complete with tents. In retirement, Fintan and KK delighted in spending 25 winters in sunny Naples, Florida.
An avid athlete throughout his life, Fintan played competitive baseball, basketball and ping pong in his earlier years and played tennis in college. Fintan continued to play tennis and golf into his 90s. His competitive spirit won him many trophies and awards through the years. He had a hole-in-one at Westhaven while in his 90s, and Fint and his fellow Oshkosh tennis partner Bob Luetke were ranked #1 in Wisconsin and #15 nationally in the Double 65+ age division. Fint was ranked #7 in Florida Singles 85+ age division. He continued to enjoy watching the Packers, Bucks, Brewers and Marquette Basketball with family and friends.
Fintan is survived by son Michael Fintan Flanagan (Mary Beth) of Lebanon, New Hampshire, and his children Meghan, Carrie, and Ryan; daughter Kathryn Flanagan Bermingham (John) of Oshkosh, and their children Margaret Bermingham Black (Charles) and John E. “Jack” Bermingham (Lauren); son-in-law J. Kevin Donovan of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and his children Sean and Brennan Donovan; daughter Sally Flanagan Cashin (Patrick) of Elm Grove, Wisconsin, and their children Katie Powell (Michael), Shannon Smyczek (Jeffrey), and Luke Cashin; and son James Patrick Flanagan (Angie) of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and their children Keely, Brian, Logan, Ethan, and Molly Sue. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Marion Noffke of Oshkosh, his niece Rosemarie Fuchs Robinson of Traverse City, Michigan, several Donovan and Noffke nieces and nephews, and seven great-grandchildren.
Fintan was preceded in death by his bride of 64 years, Carol Jean (Donovan) Flanagan, their beloved daughter Susan Flanagan Donovan, his parents, his brother Brendan Flanagan and his wife Mary Dale, his sister Colletta Fuchs and her husband Fredrick Jr., his brother-in-law Henry “Hank” Noffke, and brother-in-law Robert and his wife Nanette Donovan. He was also preceded in death by two nephews, and infant great-granddaughter Maria Smyczek.
Fintan’s family would like to sincerely thank his angel on earth, Paula Qualley, along with the rest of his care team for their compassion, quality care and friendship.
The family will receive visitors from 9:30 to 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, 830 S. Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54904, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM. Burial with military honors will be at Calvary Cemetery in Oshkosh. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be directed to St. Raphael the Archangel Church; or The Flanagan Fund at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, 302 Ohio Street, Oshkosh, WI 54904, to be used for charitable giving in Fintan’s memory.
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