Karl Robert Flanner arrived into the home of Raymond Loring Flanner and Alice Estella (Benedict) Flanner on January 9, 1958. He joined 3 brothers, Frank, Dean and Don Flanner and 3 sisters, Margaret, Jan and Alena. His baby sister, Karen, would arrive 3 years later, almost to the day. He grew and thrived at the family farm in Fulton, Kansas, before the family moved to Fort Scott during his 8th year. He completed his education through the Fort Scott school system and is an alumnus of FSHS class of 1976.
By his own words, he accepted Christ as his savior as a young teen, yet he wandered through the young seasons of his life.
After graduation he began his career at the “Owl Roost”, where he met his wife and life partner, Joyce (Golden) Flanner. They were married on June 7, 1980 at West Liberty United Methodist church. Two years later, they were blessed to become the parents of Kyle Raymond Flanner. Their second son, Kevin Ryan Flanner, arrived in August of 1984, just as they began making plans to purchase the “Owl Roost”.
With help from many family members, Karl, and Joyce, owned and operated Flanner’s Owl Roost for the next 12 plus years, until a fire destroyed the business in 1996. Karl’s work ethic and ability to engage people brought him success in the business area and he finished his career at Peerless Products, where he worked through chemotherapy treatments and his late stages of cancer.
Karl, like all of us, may be best defined by certain life events and his response to those; as well as the quality of his relationships. Some of those moments were the birth of his first grandson and the loss of his father and mother. During this season in particular, Karl shared that his understanding and acceptance of God’s grace and mercy poured over his life as he began to search for God’s purpose and direction. After seeing his son, Kyle, leave this earth for Heaven in 2015, his focus on God’s kingdom became more focused and pervasive in all that he said and did.
A quick smile and encouraging word were always available and he showed care and respect to all who knew him. He loved Jesus, his family and friends, and was a Chiefs fan for all time. His greatest joys were serving Christ and spending time with his family and friends, particularly, his children, Kevin and Stephanie (Stiemsma) and his grandchildren, Treyton, Logan, Tobias and Ronin Flanner.
Karl joined his Savior on February 8, 2021, where he was also welcomed by his son, Kyle; his parents and a great cloud of witnesses who have gone on before. We seek Christ’s peace in our loss and lean on our hope and assurance of being reunited in Heaven some day.
Family and friends are invited to swap stories and remembrances on Thursday, February 11, from 5:30-7:30 PM at Fort Scott Nazarene. The funeral will also be held at Fort Scott Nazarene on Friday, February 12, at 11:00 AM. Chiefs attire is appropriate. Memorials are suggested to Fort Scott Nazarene and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.