Paul William Flattery

My wife, Eleanore Conrad Flattery, and I always loved the old World War II ballad "I'll Be Seeing You." That sentiment has sustained me since her death in 2006. On May 1, 2012, I followed her, surrounded as she was, by family at home. I was born Paul William Flattery on July 22, 1925, in Foster, Iowa to Leo and Eleanor Maneor Flattery. I was raised with my two brothers, Jack and Dick, and two sisters, Virginia and Theresa Anne, in an Irish Catholic farming community near the cross-roads of Georgetown, Iowa. We all grew up poor during the Depression, but were made rich by the collection of characters who taught us to face life's hardships with a light heart, quick wit and laughter. This forged the base of my personality, along with going to war as a teenager in 1943. I served in the Pacific with the 77th Infantry Division and was in battles for Guam Truk, Leyte Gulf and Ie- shiema. One of the luckiest days of my life was when I was wounded, which got me off the front lines, sent me to Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, where I met my wife of 58 years. Eleanore was an Army X-ray tech at Fitzsimmons. From the moment I saw her I knew she was the one for me. Upon discharges from the Army, we were married in her hometown of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where I also attended vocational technical school. We moved to Kansas City in 1950 and then on to Prairie Village, Kan., in 1970. I began working with Otis Elevator in 1951, worked for the company for next 35 years and was member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 12. Eleanore and I were always very proud of our four children, including sons, Kevin (Karen), Mark and Brian (Becky), and daughter, Paula K. Flattery-Aaron (Michael). Our children gave us wonderful grandchildren including Colette Flattery, Patrick Flattery, Rachel Flattery, Sarah Flattery, Ryan Flattery, Andrew Flattery, Alexander Flattery, Moira Aaron-Castillo (Brent), Kyle Aaron, Caitlin Aaron, and Devin Aaron; and three great- grandsons, Patrick and Donovan Flattery and Michael Castillo. If you are inclined to do something in my memory, please make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of my wife, Eleanore Flattery and her sister, Marion Nealon. My funeral Mass will be 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 4, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, 7231 Mission Road, Prairie Village, with private graveside services. I have asked for the final song to be "I'll Be Seeing You" because I believe we all will. Until then, farewell.