Robert Joe “Jodie Bear” Flaming was born on September 13, 1936 and went to be with his Savior on November 29, 2019. He was born in Cordell, OK to Menno and Emma Grace Hinz Flaming. He attended Longfellow Junior High and graduated from Enid High School class of 1954. He went on to attend Tabor college where he dated the woman he would marry Arlene Mae Ratzlaff. They married on February 21, 1957 in Corn, OK, sharing 62 wonderful years of marriage. During this time they welcomed 3 beautiful daughters Roxane Jane, Rochelle June, and Renee Jolene. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at Phillips University in Enid, OK. Champlin Petoleum Company employed him for 20 years, where he was supervisor of wholesale billing and exchange accounting. On August 17, 1981 Joe together with his wife, two daughters, and two sons in laws opened Flaming Inc. Napa Auto Parts. They owned and operated the business together until his death. As a family they also owned and operated Baskin Robbins of Enid from 1978 to 2001, where they loved serving scoops of ice cream to the community.
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Joe loved to take his family on camping trips, boating outings, and family reunions. Later on he enjoyed taking his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids to Branson yearly for Silver Dollar City and go carts. His passion for sports especially OU football was passed on to his three daughters who learned from him how to kick and pass a football and never give up on the Sooners. Since 1996 he was a member of Kiwanis Club of Enid where he served as President and Kiwanian of the Year, attending regularly with wife Arlene. He enjoyed conducting the Kiwanis train at Meadowlake Park and coaching in Kiwanis sponsored Little Olympics. He and Arlene were current members of Emmanuel Enid.
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He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Frances. He is survived by his wife Arlene Flaming, daughters Roxane and Randy Ewert of Marcellus, Michigan, Rochelle and Kevin Ratzlaff of Enid, Renee and Marc Koehn of Enid, 5 grandsons and 6 great grandchildren: Josh Ewert and Carli Thompson and daughter Ida, Gregg and Jyl Ratzlaff and children Siri, Leightyn, and Case, Brett Koehn, Colby and Abby Ratzlaff and daughters Juliette and Rosemary, and Shaun and Leila Koehn. He is also survived by his siblings Dolores Flaming Wiens and husband Paul, Jim Flaming and wife Betty, and Jackie Flaming Block and husband Richard and many other loved family members.
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Friends and family are invited to the celebration of life for Joe Flaming on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 10 am at EmmanuelEnid. Family visitation is from 6-7 pm on Monday at Ladusau-Evans. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
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Memorial donations can be made to Gideon International, Kiwanis Club of Enid, and Tabor College.
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Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
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Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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