Casper Joseph Flickinger
Casper Joseph “Joe” Flickinger died peacefully in his home in Lynnwood, WA on November 3, 2023 at the age of 87. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 52 years, Linda Flickinger; his daughter Renee (Flickinger) Howard of Seattle WA, her husband Jim, and their children Abby, Alex, and Kate. He is further survived by his stepdaughter Jennifer Jeske and her husband Joseph of Halethorpe, MD, and their children Ellie, Andrew, Evelyn, Clara, Paul, and Mads. He is also survived by his siblings Thomas Flickinger, Rev. Robert Flickinger, Joyce Noble, and David Flickinger and his wife Cathy. He is predeceased by his brother Michael Flickinger and his parents Edwin and Edna (Snyder) Flickinger.
Joe was born in 1936 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids in 1954 and obtained his Bachelor of Science from Aquinas College. He also studied philosophy and Latin at St. Jerome’s College in Ontario, Canada, and theology and biblical studies at St. John’s Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan. Joe was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Grand Rapids in 1962, and returned to the lay state so that he could marry Linda (Newman) Flickinger in 1971.
Known by his students as “Mr. Flick”, Joe was a beloved science teacher and coach at Blanchet High School (now Bishop Blanchet) in Seattle for 33 years, from 1973-2006. He taught countless students biology and chemistry and coached many sports including golf, basketball, cross country, track and eventually tennis for many years. In October 1993, Joe suffered a heart attack and stroke which left him in a coma for nearly two months. Despite these setbacks, he was determined to make a full recovery and return to teaching and coaching. Remarkably, he was able to coach tennis again in the spring of 1994 and returned to teaching soon thereafter. Joe continued to lead an active lifestyle despite his heart issues, which included many trips with his wife Linda during their retirement to places like Costa Rica, Ireland, Spain, England, Alaska, New York, New Mexico, New England, San Antonio, San Francisco, and San Diego. He was an avid puzzler, sports fanatic, and mall walker, and always had a friendly smile and thank you for everyone he encountered, especially the many caregivers he befriended at UW Medical Center-Northwest over the last decade.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Bishop Blanchet High School or to Continuum Hospice & Palliative Care. A celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at his daughter’s home in Seattle. For details, please contact Renee Howard at:
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The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.