Mike Fleck

Howard (Mike) Fleck entered eternal life on October 23, 2023, at the age of 84. Mike was a lifelong resident of De Pere and loved all things Wisconsin - especially the Packers. He and his brothers - Pete, Ken, and Bill roamed around town as kids getting into plenty of mischief. After graduating from De Pere High School in 1957, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in education from UW La Crosse. His first teaching position was in Gilman, WI, where he met Virginia (Ginny) Priebusch. They married in 1966 and moved to Oregon for two years while Mike got his Masters’s degree at Oregon State University.

Mike and Ginny returned to Green Bay and settled in De Pere. Mike taught history and civics and was a mock trial coach. During his career, he taught at Franklin and Edison Middle Schools and eventually settled at Green Bay West High School. After he retired in 1998, he put his teaching knowledge to practice by serving as a representative for his De Pere district on the De Pere City Council and as a Brown County Board member. Mike was also actively involved in the De Pere Historical Society and the De Pere Historic Preservation Board. He was also active in the De Pere Men's Club and the Meals on Wheels program.

Mike and Ginny had three girls: Heather, Shannon (John ) Zur, and Courtney (Nick)Kurtz. The real joy of their lives were their four grandchildren: Colby, Dawson, Joshua, and Samantha. They all enjoyed many outings and adventures together - with “Opa” usually getting them lost. Mike enjoyed traveling throughout his life and was able to visit all 50 states as well as many European countries in his lifetime. An avid gardener, Mike would spend most summer days working on his many gardens and tending to his koi pond.

Mike was preceded in death by his wife Ginny, parents Howard and Christine(Lary) Fleck, his brothers Pete, Ken, and Bill, stepmother Katherine (Daanen) Fleck, and stepbrother Mike Daanen. He is also survived by sister-in-law Mary Fleck, stepbrother Jerome(Kaye)Daanen, and stepsister Dorothy(Tom) Schwanz.

The Lions Club was an important part of Mike’s life. He was a long-term member of the Green Bay Northeast Lions Club and was recently in the De Pere Lions Club. He was awarded both the Birch-Sturm Fellowship and Melvin Jones awards for service.

Many people will remember Mike with a smile on his face, a beer in his hand, and a toothpick in his mouth; or cruising in a convertible, chewing Doublemint gum, and smoking a cigar, or telling bad jokes while wearing a Packer belt buckle. He was always willing to help others and never asked for anything in return. Mike will be missed by many. He is probably teaching the angels how to chant “Go Pack Go!”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mike’s name to the De Pere Historical Society or the Wisconsin Lions Foundation.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 22 from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 North Webster, De Pere with a Funeral Service beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery De Pere that afternoon.