Thomas Frank Flickinger

Thomas Frank Flickinger, age 85 of Grand Rapids passed away on Wednesday April 30, 2025. Tom was born May 6, 1939, and was the second of six kids. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Edwin and Edna Flickinger, his wife of twelve years Beth Flickinger, his brothers Joe Flickinger and Mike Flickinger, and grandchild Jacob Dalrymple. He is survived by his daughters Patti Flickinger and Michelle (Tom) Priest, his siblings Fr. Bob Flickinger, Joyce Noble, and David (Cathy) Flickinger, sister-in-law Terese (David) Schroeder, and Jonna Flickinger, mother of his children and lifelong friend, along with his grandchildren Allison (Nick) VanZandt, Tim Priest, Leo Dalrymple, Mike Priest, Kaili Dalrymple, Katie (Tyler) Thenikl, and great grandchildren Alexis VanZandt, Jake VanZandt, Haven Rogers and Ki Rogers, and many nieces and nephews. Tom was a strong person, surviving polio at a young age and serving his country in the US Army overseas. Those who really knew “Flick” knew he had a great sense of humor and was always up for a game; on the field, at the casino, on the tv and radio, or best of all, with a game of cribbage or a deck of cards at his kitchen table. If he took your money, it was with a smile. If you took his money, he was ready for you next time. He tracked sports stats and scores like ESPN had him on the payroll. He was a loyal fan of his home state Lions and Tigers and drifted across the border to support the Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish across all sports. Tom was well known to neighbors and friends, growing up on Cass Avenue, attending St. Andrew’s and Catholic Central downtown representing the Cougars on the basketball court and football field, and eventually settling down off Michigan Street. You may have meet Tom through his involvement as a parishioner and work as a pastoral associate at St Mary’s Catholic Church, or as a member of and sponsor for others during his 40+ years of sobriety at First Step House and Second Chance, or as the neighbor who always had a minute of two to chat. We all know the term “pillars of the community.” Pillars are nice and needed, but men like Tom are the “foundation of the community,” nothing so obvious, just helping others, living his faith, and sharing a laugh or a tear whenever and wherever someone needed a friend. Tom would want us to end this with a bit of “Flickenese,” a family language handed down to Tom and passed on to younger generations. In honor of Tom, treat yourself to some “kee” and “choku” and watch a game on the “bim bim.” (Translation – treat yourself to some ice cream and chocolate and watch a game on the tv.) Go Irish! A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday May 5 at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he will repose one hour prior to the Mass. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. His family will receive visitors Sunday May 4 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Arsulowicz Brothers Remembrance Mortuary, 3525 Remembrance Rd NW, where a prayer service with sharing will be held at 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the important organizations that Tom participated in and supported throughout his adult life: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, The Alano Club, and Faith Hospice. Tom’s family wants to thank the staff of Green Acres for their kindness and care this past year. We appreciate everything you did for Tom and our family. Our family would also like to thank the caregivers from Faith Hospice for their help and support during a difficult time.

Tributes

Thomas Frank Flickinger

May 6, 1939 - April 30, 2025