Sara was born August 28, 1948 in Mt. Pleasant, daughter of Dick and Bernice (Bare) Wilson. She spent her childhood in Clare and Lake City before moving to Alpena in 1964. She met Ronald Flanders at Lud’s Drive-In soon after and graduated in 1966 from Alpena High School. Ron and Sara married on September 14, 1968. They settled in the Lansing area, where she completed her BA and MA from Michigan State University. Sara taught for 26 years at Lansing's Harley Franks Elementary, building strong bonds with fellow teachers and students that remain today.
Sara was a selfless and beloved human being, described by many as salt of the earth. She was a compassionate and trusted confidante who always put others before herself. Her greatest joys were simple pleasures - a cup of tea with a friend, baking and laughing with her daughter, a Spartan victory, and enjoying all that lake life in Michigan has to offer.
Sara was preceded in death by her parents, Dick and Bernice Wilson, and a handful of close family friends, including Janice Zimmerman. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ron, of Haslett; daughter Krystin, of Chicago, Il; sister Elaine Bogart, of Mason; nephew David Williamson, of Tucson, AZ; and sister-in-law Marilyn, of Carefree, AZ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sara’s name to McLaren Hospitality House (Flint), American Stroke Association, or Alliance for the Great Lakes.
A memorial gathering will be held Friday, June 30th from 11:00AM - 1:00PM at Gorsline Runciman (1730 E Grand River Ave., East Lansing). A luncheon will immediately follow at Coral Gables (2838 E Grand River Ave., East Lansing).
