Richard L. Flannery

Richard L. Flannery, 84, of Sioux City, passed away Sunday, January 5, 2020 at a local hospital.  A funeral mass will be held Saturday, January 11 at 10:00 A.M. at St Boniface Catholic Church.  Visitation will be Friday from 4-7:00 P.M. with a rosary at 4 P.M. and a prayer service at 6 P.M. all at the church.  Burial with military honors will be at Calvary Cemetery.  Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is handling the arrangements.  Online condolences may be made to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Richard was born on July 14, 1935 in Rock Rapids, IA to Lee and Lyla Flannery.  He graduated from Rock Rapids High School, and then attended the University of Iowa. Richard later received his undergraduate degree from Wayne State College and an MBA from the University of South Dakota.  Richard enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean War in 1953.  Spanning a 41-year career with the Air Force and Air National Guard, he rose to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant with the 185^TH Air Refueling Wing.  Richard was a veteran, serving in the Vietnam War from 1968-69 as a radar technician. During his time in Vietnam, he helped build an orphanage. He played a large role in coordinating agencies and helping passengers and survivors on Flight 232.  Richard’s final gift to Siouxland before retirement was the creation of the paint facility at the 185th.  

Richard moved to Sioux City in 1957.  It was here that he met his future wife, Geneva Remillard while dancing at Shore Acres. They were united in marriage on September 5, 1958 at St. Boniface Catholic Church.  Richard was deeply committed to Geneva and had been taking care of her in their home for the past four years.  Richard was always very involved in his children and grandchildren’s lives, from coaching little league baseball to being a scout leader.  He attended endless sporting and musical events from grade school to college.  Richard was known around Sioux City as the “Bubble Gum Man”, often handing out gum to adults and children for decades. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and technology.  He was a member of St. Boniface where he was active on many boards and served as a eucharistic minister.  His Catholic faith was very important to him as well as saying the rosary every day.  He was a strong advocate for education, still tutoring algebra, physics and biostatics in recent years.  Richard was a private pilot instructor in Sioux City, teaching many people in the area to fly. Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing, and following various sports teams, especially Bishop Heelan, Iowa, Iowa State, Notre Dame, the Twins, and the Minnesota Vikings.  He even held on to see the Vikings win against the Saints on Sunday.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife Geneva Flannery, Sioux City; children: Kathleen (Richard) Lohr, Sioux City, Michael (Pauline) Flannery, Sioux City, Mark Flannery, Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren: Carolyn Lohr, Denver, CO, Alexander (Danielle) Lohr and their son Burke, St. Paul, MN, Maria Lohr, Denver, CO, Eric Flannery Lohr, Sioux City, Erin Ann (Ben) Andersen and their sons Calvin, James, and Lyncoln, Altoona, IA, Dr. Kaitlin Marie Flannery, Boston, MA, Dr. Meghan Eileen (Siya) Mali, Salt Lake City, UT, Julie Flannery, Minneapolis and brother Roger Flannery, Omaha, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, Cecelia Kathleen Lohr and an aunt, Pearl (Kelly) Roach.