Mark O. Flanagan Jr.

Mark O. Flanagan, Jr., 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Mark was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Margaret Mary (Mar) Dahlman, his parents Mark and Norma (Yowell) Flanagan, Sr., brother Paul Flanagan, sister Eileen (Flangan) Hill, brothers-in-law William Dahlman and George Vondenbrink and niece Katherine Flanagan. Surviving are Mark’s devoted brother Hugh (Jerry) Flanagan (Illinois), loving son Mark (Jeff) Flanagan (wife Pamela (White) Flanagan) of Fort Wayne and grandsons Paul Flanagan (fiance Chelsea Frazier) of Oklahoma, Sean Flanagan (partner Iliana Morataya) of North Carolina and Andrew Flanagan of Florida, sisters-in-law Betty (Dahlman) Vondenbrink (Ohio) and Mary Ann Dahlman (Georgia), and several nieces and nephews. Close friends Bud Dyer and Sheryl Schwartz also survive.

Born in Oxford, OH, Mark lived an extraordinary life. While still in high school, Mark was a lifeguard who saved a young child from drowning and made the girls swoon. WWII took Mark to Europe as a Private in the United States Army, 69th Infantry Division. Mark arrived just before the start of the Battle of the Bulge. As a machine gun jeep driver, Mark was in the thick of the action. He and his jeep mate single handedly accepted the surrender of a German-controlled hospital. When the war ended, Mark’s movie star good looks made him the obvious choice to represent American GI’s in a Danish film used to promote Denmark post-war.

Upon returning to the states, Mark graduated from Miami University in Oxford and joined Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. During his 20-year career with P&G, Mark traveled the county and the world. In 1967 Mark was lured to Fort Wayne by Central Soya (now Bungee) to start and lead their new edible oil division. During his 15 years with the company, Mark became close friends with many leaders of top brands still found on the shelves of grocery stores today. He even famously told the makers of ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter’ that the name would never work.

After his retirement from Central Soya, Mark spent a number of years with Fort Wayne National Bank as a trust officer.

Mark also gave back to his community. Mark and his wife were instrumental in the development of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, were both members of the board and were season ticket holders for over 50 years. He also volunteered to teach economics at Junior Achievement for over 25 years and remained a supporter after his retirement. He has been a supporter of The Pat Dyer Memorial Fund, which was founded in honor of his good friend Pat Dyer, a Fort Wayne teacher. The organization provides gas cards to local cancer patients in need.

Mark lived in Pine Valley for over 50 years, and he and his wife were avid supporters of the then newly formed Pine Valley Country Club. Mark remained an active member of the club until his death.

Services will be private due to Covid restrictions, but the family will hold a Celebration of Life at Pine Valley Country Club once restrictions are eased.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Junior Achievement of Northeast Indiana, or The Pat Dyer Memorial Fund.