Gerald Flickinger

Gerald Gordon Flickinger, Gerry to his friends, 84 of Vanderbilt, passed away at home Saturday, August 23, 2025, surrounded by his family and pets just 11 days shy of his 85th birthday.

The son of Homer and Edith (Wilson), he was born September 3, 1940, in Hudson Township. Gerald was a life long area resident residing on the same family property for his entire life. He attended Vanderbilt schools through tenth grade and graduated from Wolverine High School in 1959.

Gerald married his high school sweetheart Hazel Ealy on March 3, 1960, at the United Church of Christ in Wolverine, where they have now been members for nearly their whole life.

In his teens, Gerald started out washing dishes at the restaurant where his mother worked in Vanderbilt. Following that, he made wood pallets for Dunham's wood products and worked at Dowker's Meats in Gaylord. H & H Tube in Vanderbilt, is where he retired after 42 years as a dedicated shop foreman. He also served several years on the Wilmot Township Board.

A man of few words but many thoughts and talents, Gerald was an all around strong and amazing man who was an incredibly hard worker. In his spare time he enjoyed spending time with his black lab, Duke, and being in nature whether it be berry picking, hunting, snowmobiling or just working around the yard. He was always doing something and keeping busy but if there was a Nascar race or an old western to be watched, he needed a break. He truly loved getting out to the track to watch his sons and grandsons race. Most Saturdays you could find him in the pits making sure they had a pit crew chief. He must have been their lucky charm because most times he was there, they won. Gerald loved to teach anyone how to do all the things he knew, and the way he knew how. He was a jack of all trades and it seemed there was nothing he could not do. From mechanics to building and fixing just about anything you could think of, he could do, like he had done it his whole life. His children and grand children have retained a priceless amount of knowledge from him over his years that will proudly be passed down to younger generations in the family.

Gerry was undoubtedly a kind soul whose warmth and goodness touched everyone who met him. He always found some way to bring the weather into the conversation usually as an opener to start a conversation.

His legacy will live on through the lessons he taught, the love he gave, and the family he cherished so deeply.

Gerald is survived by his wife of 65 years, Hazel; his children, Kenneth (Cathy) Flickinger and John Flickinger, both of Wolverine, Lisa Rolinski (Rick Lanning) of Vanderbilt, and Roger (Megan Montgomery) Flickinger of Gaylord; twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren and four step granddaughters; his sister, Ruby Soper of Gaylord; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog and faithful companion, Duke.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Edith Flickinger; brothers, William Flickinger and Pearl Flickinger; sister-in-law Vivian Flickinger; brother-in-law Warren Soper; and infant grandson, Dustin Flickinger.

A memorial service remembering Gerald will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service where visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Silver Lake Cemetery in Wolverine.

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