John Stephen Flack

John was born on January 15, 1946, to William M. Flack, Jr. and Bonnie L. (Bentley) Flack, in Pasco, WA, where his father worked as a conductor for the Northern Pacific Railroad. John grew up in Yakima, graduating from A.C. Davis High School in 1964. A natural leader and athlete, he excelled in sports and student government, joined the Marine Corps Reserves while still in high school, served as Master Counselor in DeMolay, and became a member of the Lutheran church during these formative years.

Following in his older brother’s footsteps, he began college at Pacific Lutheran University, before transferring to Oregon State University. There he earned a B.S. in Zoology (Marine Biology) in 1970. In 1967, he married Kathleen Baken, a childhood friend from Yakima, and together they welcomed two children, Kirsten and John, while living in Corvallis. They were married for 20 years.

After graduation, John was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps, serving as an artillery officer and intelligence officer. His career included two year-long tours in Okinawa, multiple sea deployments, and assignments at bases across the United States. The Marine Corps was a lifelong point of pride, and he embodied the ethos of Semper Fi—living with integrity, honoring tradition and duty, and always doing the right thing, even when it came at personal cost. He was honorably discharged in 1981 at the rank of Captain.

Returning to Washington with his family, John explored a career in mortuary science, working as a funeral director at Weeks Funeral Home in Enumclaw. He later joined Alaska Airlines in the flight training division and then moved to Boeing, where he served as a project manager on numerous programs in both defense and commercial divisions. He helped establish Boeing offices in Ghana, South Africa, and South Carolina. He retired in 2016.

John’s curiosity, drive, and zest for life fueled an extraordinary range of passions. He treasured the beauty of the Pacific Northwest—from mountains to sea—and approached every endeavor with dedication. His pursuits included scuba diving in the Caribbean and Puget Sound; piloting flights for the nonprofit Angel Flight; climbing Mount Rainier; cross-country, telemark, and downhill skiing; skydiving; sailing both for pleasure in the Caribbean and competitively racing Thistles on Lake Washington; volunteering as an EMT with Ski Patrol at Snoqualmie Pass and at Harborview Medical Center; refereeing and playing soccer well into his 60s (and cheering on the Seattle Sounders and Arsenal as an MLS season ticket holder); and, in later years, playing golf and volunteering at the Bellevue Golf Course and at professional tournaments. Through these activities, he built many enduring friendships and earned deep respect from those who knew him.

Above all, John valued family. He showed his love, loyalty, and care in countless ways. He is survived by his partner of 14 years, Kathleen Larson Florio; daughter, Kirsten Flack (Andrew Gardner); son, John C. Flack (Danielle Miller); brother, William Henry Flack; sister, Katherine Flack; brother, Jim Flack (Leslie Lemley); two grandchildren, Luke Vatheuer and Elsa Vatheuer; nieces, Kimberly Flack, Lucy Fikso, Izzy Fikso, and Grace Lemley; and nephews, Jonathan Flack and Gus Fikso. He will be missed beyond measure.

Honoring John’s wishes, he will be buried at sea off the Washington coast. He often joked that, having eaten so much crab during his lifetime, it was only fair to return the favor.

John's Celebration of Life gathering will be held at Sunset Hills Funeral Home on November 10, 2025 beginning at 12:00pm. Please see below for additional details.