Willie Flentge

Willie Otto Flentge, 94, of Caldwell, entered peacefully into rest on August 30, 2010 at home, surrounded by his family. A funeral service will be held at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Skip Stutts will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham. The family will receive friends and relatives at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, and from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell. Willie was born July 3, 1916 in Welcome, Texas to Albert and Hattie Schultz Flentge. He attended Wesley/Klump School. He married his wife of 70 years, Laverna Sommerfield, on January 31, 1939 in Franklin, La. He served in the Army Air Force, in the 421st Bombardment Squadron from 1942 to 1945 during World War II in Tinian, Mariana Islands. A member of Elizabeth Lutheran Church of Caldwell, he was also a member of the VFW Post #4458, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion of Brenham. After his discharge from the military, he was a truck driver for Hunt Tool Co. He also owned Willie½s Ice House and later opened Willie½s Caf½, both in Houston. In 1966, he bought a 500 acre farm, WL Ranch, bordered by the Brazos River in Caldwell. In his spare time, he loved hunting, fishing, working on his oil rigs, and most of all, spending time with his grandchildren and his special dog ½Booger½. Willie also enjoyed eating at the cafes and flirting with the waitresses. Survivors include his wife, Laverna Sommerfield Flentge of Caldwell; sons Willie Jr. of Houston, son and daughter-in-law Charles Ray and Rebecca Flentge of Caldwell; son Carl Flentge of Caldwell; daughter Mary Flentge McAuley of Dripping Springs; son David Flentge of Midland; grandchildren Rachel Janes of Haysville, KA, Elizabeth and husband Tyler Foerster of New Ulm; Lisa and husband Casey Redman of Brenham; Zachary McAuley of Dripping Springs; Colin McAuley and Andrea Wolverton of Austin; great-grandchildren: Taylor and Blake Janes, Kolden and Raylee Meyer, Ava and Emily Redman; sister Christine Bentke of Brenham; sister-in-law Rosa Lee Sommerfield; sister-in-law Leona Flentge of Nelsonville; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Hattie Schultz Flentge; brothers Harold Flentge, Edmond Flentge, Albert Flentge, Jr., and Alvin Flentge; sister and brother-in-law Ramona and James Bohannon, brother-in-law Melvin Bentke, and brother-in-law Lilburn Sommerfield. Pallbearers will be Zachary McAuley, Colin McAuley, James Bohannon, Mark Bentke, Pat Bailey, Jimmie Sommerfield and Melvin Lee Flentge. Honorary pallbearers are the nurses from Texas Home Health of Brenham, and Texas Home Health Hospice, and special private nurses Carolyn Nichols and Michelle Miller. The family requests that those who wish may give memorials to Texas Home Health Hospice, 1605 Rock Prairie Road, Ste. 206, College Station, Tx. 77845, or to Hospice Brazos Valley, 302 E. Blue Bell Road, Brenham, Tx. 77833 or the Connie Animal Clinic, 3901 Hwy. 36 North, Brenham, Tx. 77833, or to a favorite charity.