William J. Flavin

William J. "Bill" Flavin, 85, of Lake Charles passed away Sunday September 21, 2014 at a local hospital with his loving wife and two daughters at his side. Mr. Flavin was born in Lockport, IL on December 29, 1928 to Maurice and Catherine (Keough) Flavin. Bill was a passionate lifelong student of learning, award winning athlete and a big sports fan. He graduated from Lockport Township High School in Lockport, IL in 1947. He attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA and graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI in 1951 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. First and foremost Bill was a devoted husband and wonderful father who provided guidance and support to his eight children, twenty-three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. As a principled man, Bill set an extraordinary example to his family and friends and leaves a legacy of love that will be impossible to replace. To his grandchildren and great grandchildren he will be forever remembered as their "Papa". The grandson of an Irish immigrant, Bill loved and celebrated his Irish heritage year-round--not only on St. Patrick's Day. Bill was proud to boast of his dual citizenship. He was able to secure his Irish citizenship because of his grandfather's birth in Ireland. On August 30, 1952 Bill married Marilyn Agnes Condon. With Marilyn's incredible support Bill enjoyed two lengthy and successful careers that spanned 62 years. Bill began his engineering career by serving from 1952 to 1954 in the U.S. Army at Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, NJ during the Korean War. After military service, Bill returned to Joliet, IL where he worked for Blockson Chemical Company, now Olin Corporation. Bill was later promoted and transferred to Lake Charles in 1972 as Maintenance Manager for that facility. Bill worked for the company in various technical engineering and managerial roles for 22 years. In 1976 Bill turned down a promotion with Olin Corporation that would have caused his family to relocate away from the Lake Charles area. Instead he embarked on his second successful career. With a friend he formed a real estate business in Lake Charles that is now Flavin Realty, Inc. Bill worked with Flavin Realty, Inc. for a total of 38 years. Bill was named the State of Louisiana Realtor of the Year in 1999, the Lake Charles area Realtor of the Year in 1985, 1997 and 2002 and was the recipient of the Louisiana Realtor's Lawrence R. DeMarcay Jr. Distinguished Service Award in 2006. He was Southwest Louisiana Board of Realtors President in 1992 and 1996. He was active in the LARPAC and numerous other committees with the local and state real estate associations. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Maurice and Catherine (Keough) Flavin, mother and father-in-law John and Cecile Condon, sister Margaret Smego, brother-in-law Robert Devine, sister-in-law Norma Condon, brother-in-law William Hartmann, grandchild Kyle Flavin, great grandchild Sam Flavin, cousins William, Jack and Betty (Brown) Fitzgerald and his lifelong friend Joseph Broderick. Bill is survived by Marilyn, his loving wife of 62 years. Also surviving are his children Robert (Susan) Flavin, Gary (Pam) Flavin, Patricia Flavin, Daniel (Lisa) Flavin, Timothy (Kathy) Flavin, Mary Margaret Flavin, Thomas (Sharon) Flavin and James (Kelly) Flavin, his grandchildren Kelly, Kathleen, Kristen, Kevin and Kara Flavin, Will Flavin, Maggie (Morgan O'Keefe) and William Fuselier, Beau (Tricia), Brent (Amanda), Brady (Louise), Bobby, Benjamin and Bonnie Flavin, Molly (Sam LaHaye), Colleen and Megan Flavin, Emily Flavin, Corinne, Connor, Burke and Quinn Flavin and great grandchildren Anna Cate, Addie, Will, Emie and Jack Flavin, James LaHaye and Mary Minor Flavin. Also survived by his brother Thomas (Lois) Flavin of Darien, IL and his sister Mary Therese Devine of Lockport, IL, his sister-in-law Virginia Hartmann of Joliet, IL, and his brothers-in-law Richard Smego of Darien, IL, Patrick Condon of Shorewood, IL and Reverend William Condon, recently relocated to Lake Charles, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, September 26, 2014 at 11:00 AM from Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Monsignor James Gaddy and Bill's brother-in-law Reverend William Condon will officiate. Interment will be in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday September 25, 2014 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM, and continue the next morning from 9:00 AM until 10:30 AM in the funeral home. Pallbearers will be: Beau, Brent, Brady, Bobby, Benjamin, Kevin, Will, Connor, Burke, and Quinn Flavin, Will Fuselier, Sam LaHaye and Morgan O'Keefe. Honorary pallbearers will be: Jim Oakley and Charlie Koenig. The family is grateful to the doctors and nurses that cared for Bill with special thanks to Dr. King White and Dr. Edward Hebert of Lake Charles and Dr. Vincent Aquino of The Woodlands, TX. The family requests that memorials in Bill's name be made to his beloved parish, Our Lady Queen of Heaven 617 W. Claude St. Lake Charles, LA 70605, or to the charity of your choice. Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.