St. George, Utah
- Richard "Dick" H. Fleischer, 99, passed away peacefully at home April 14, 2019, to be with Helen, his beloved wife of 69 years. He was born September 6, 1919 in Lorain, Ohio to Henry and Rachel Wolfe Fleischer. He graduated from Quincy High School in Massachusetts. He married Helen Fredrickson, his high school sweetheart, on October 16, 1941 in Quincy. He attended Bentley College in Boston. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps before the Pearl Harbor attack. He served in the Pacific as a P-47 Fighter pilot where he flew 200 missions and became an Ace with 6 confirmed victories.
After the War, he went to work for a large insurance company in Boston. Shortly, thereafter, he and Helen moved to Altadena, California. Dick and two partners started an insurance brokerage firm in Pasadena. Eventually, he bought out his two partners and ran a very successful business for the rest of his working career.
After retirement, he and Helen moved to Rockville, Utah, by the Virgin River, where he spent years making substantial improvements and expansions to the property and buildings. In later years, Dick and Helen moved to a townhouse in a senior development in St. George, Utah.
He was an accomplished saxophone and clarinet player and formed a semi-professional band while in high school that continued to perform into his college years. He was an avid and excellent golfer. He also enjoyed the social functions held at the St. George Air Museum to honor veterans.
Wherever Dick and Helen lived, they made many dear life-long friends.
We want to thank Lynnette Kinsell, Ronie Anderson and Linda Halter (Kind Hearts Senior Care), Garland Phillips, and Hospice Care who provided wonderful in-home care.
Gary and Selma Rink were the dearest of friends for both Dick and Helen over many years. They provided many different types of assistance for Dick. Their Tuesday night beer and pizza dinners and pool playing were highlight events for Dick. Other close friends were Dennis and Maggie Grimes, Kay Nelson, and Rebecca Edwards.
He is survived by his daughter, Mimi Wesoski (Garland Phillips) (Colorado); his brother Glenn (Frances) Fleischer (Florida); his niece
Susan Fleischer (Robert) Bramlette (Texas);
his nephews: Richard (Frances) Keene (Colorado) and Bruce (Becky) Keene (Arizona); and his niece Gale (Bill) Brinkerhoff (New Mexico).
Memorial services with Military Honors will be held Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St George, Utah.
Family contacts: Richard Keene or Frances Keene, 303.721.6389 and Mimi Wesoski, 970.765.2254.
