David Lloyd Flentje

David L. Flentje of Lowell, passed away Wednesday September 28, 2016 from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. David was born April 19, 1969 in Quincy, IL the son of Laurence and Maxine (Cox) Flentje. He was employed by Autocam in Grand Rapids where he was a skilled machinist. He would have said that his principal vocation in life was being the devoted father to his son and namesake, Ezekiel David. He was nanny and tutor to his niece and nephew after their mother’s death.  He was an avid and skillful hunter.   He enjoyed canoeing and ran eleven rivers in both Missouri and Michigan.  Perhaps the greatest single pleasure of his too-short life, after the birth of his son, was taking him to the Canadian boundary waters on a wilderness canoe trip.  He was a devoted Episcopalian who spent many happy years at Christ Cathedral in St. Louis, MO where he did a variety of jobs including, amusingly, wedding organizer.  He most recently attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Kalamazoo; he also enjoyed worshiping with Hope Lutheran Church in Rockford. He was a brilliant raconteur who liked little better than theological and political conversations that went long into the night accompanied by a good cigar.  He could fix anything — literally.  It remains a mystery why he wouldn’t cut his beard.  Surviving are his son, Ezekiel D. Flentje of Lowell; parents, Laurence and Maxine Flentje of Quincy, IL; three brothers, Gregory (Stacey Marquee) Flentje of Kalamazoo, MI, J.W. (Linda) Flentje of Trenton, MO, Karl (Stephanie) Flentje of Jena, Germany; 4 nieces & 4 nephews. A Celebration of David’s Life with Holy Eucharist will be held at 11 am Friday October 7, 2016 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Kalamazoo, MI. Memorial contributions may be directed to the college fund for Ezekiel Flentje. Arrangements by Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49008 (269) 343-6156. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net