Former Palo Alto Teacher Dies at 95

Lt. Col. John Chesnutt Flesher, USAF, ret. was born in Saskatchewan, Canada on January 30, 1917, and passed away peacefully at age 95 on January 4, 2013, following a stroke the previous week.

He was an active resident at BridgePoint of Los Altos, where he lived since 2009, having moved from his home in San Jose.

Known to all as Jack, he is survived by his three children, Jahna L. Holmes (Richard) of Roseville, CA; Stephanie G. Hockinson (Douglas) of Quincy, CA; and son Jack B. Flesher (Susan) of Los Altos. He also leaves behind five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wonderful wife of 62 years, Geane. Jack was also loved by his many nieces and nephews, having been the eldest of six siblings.

Jack was a man of varied interests and talents. His family immigrated to the U.S. from Canada, “bound for San Jose, CA”, when Jack was a baby in 1917. He graduated from San Jose State University in 1940, majoring in geology with a minor in aviation.

During WWII he was a pilot, navigator and flight instructor in the Army Air Corps. He and Geane were married in March of 1942, and two years later, he was assigned as a General's pilot in China. He remained active in the Air Force Reserve for twenty years, and was a proud patriot and veteran all his life, an iconic member of the Greatest Generation.

After WWII he and Geane bought and worked a chicken ranch in Chico until they moved to Palo Alto, CA in 1951, where they lived and raised their family for over twenty years. Jack held a variety of jobs from real estate sales to truck driving; during the late 1960's, he entered Stanford to get his Masters and teaching credential. In the early 70's he moved his family back to San Jose, and he taught at Jordan Middle School in Palo Alto for twenty years before retiring in 1982.

In retirement, Jack took up painting and art; he was an avid fisherman and hunter, and enjoyed camping with his family. He loved to sing and play the guitar, as well as a mandolin and a “fiddle”, and would lead family and friends in sing-a-longs around campfires. He was a friend to all he met, enjoyed laughing, and always tried to leave people happier than when he found them. He is at the center of so many of the fond memories of his family and friends, and will be deeply missed by all.

A memorial service will be held on January 19 at 1:00 PM, at Spangler's Mortuary, 399 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos. Reception to follow at BridgePoint in Los Altos.

Donations in Jack's memory may be made to: “Jack Flesher Memorial Fund”, c/o Falk, Cornell & Assoc., 350 Cambridge Avenue #130, Palo Alto, CA 94306. This fund will be used to create a veteran's memorial in Jack's honor at BridgePoint in Los Altos.

--Spangler Mortuary

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