L. John Flage, M.D.

L. John Flage, M.D., 82 years old, of Independence died Saturday, December 7, 2013 at his home. Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 12 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence, with Pastor Greg DeBoer officiating. Committal Services will be held at the Cremation Garden at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence. Friends may call for visitation from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, December 11 at the White Funeral Home in Independence.
He was born July 31, 1931 in Allamakee County, the son of Harvey Arthur and Hazel Helen (Henry) Flage. He attended country schools and graduated from high school in Waukon with the Class of 1950. He graduated from the University of Dubuque in Dubuque in 1957 and the University of Iowa School of Medicine in Iowa City in 1962.
He practiced medicine in Independence for 45 years before retiring in 1999. While he was in college, Dr. Flage worked for the U.S. Park Service during the summers at Yosemite National Park in California.
During the Korean Conflict, Dr. Flage served in the U.S. Army.  He was a member of Signal Corps and was stationed in Japan. February 21, 1962, he and the former Mary Margaret Mitchell were married in Torrance, CA.  They were later divorced. March 10, 1979, he and the former Karen Ann Severson Gremmert were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.
Dr. Flage was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence. He sang in the choir and taught Sunday School, and was on the Preschool Board and the Stewardship and Accounting Committees. He was also a member of the Independence Rotary Club (Past President) and the Foster Care Review Board. He was a master gardener, mentored in the Independence School System, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.
Dr. Flage enjoyed gardening, reading history, traveling and woodworking. He was a kind, generous, non-judgmental Christian.
Dr. Flage is survived by his wife, Karen; one son, Craig (Kim) Flage of Zeeland, MI; two daughters, Stephanie (Jesse) Holt of Kansas City, MO and Ann Flage of Indian Harbor Beach, FL; and two step-sons, Scott (Susan) Gremmert of Redmond, WA and Mark (Jennifer) Gremmert of Centennial, CO. He is also survived by six grandchildren; one great-grandson; one sister, Mary Erickson of Rogers, AR; and one sister-in-law, LeeOtia Flage of Waukon.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Kenneth Flage.