Eleanor Anne Flathman

Eleanor Anne Jungck Hansen Flathman, aged 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at her home in Pine City, Minnesota.

She was born July 8th, 1929, to Virla (Bare) and Louis C. Jungck in rural Rushville, Nebraska, where she spent her childhood on the family farm. She attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Eleanor was the firstborn of seven children. Her siblings are: Maurice (Jean) Jungck (both deceased), Gwen (Dave, deceased) Dierex, Kathryn (James, deceased) Stava, Martha Hunzeker (deceased), Marty (Dottie) Jungck, and Mari (Lynn, deceased) McKee.

Eleanor is lovingly remembered by her family, including the four children she shared with her late husband, Jerry Flathman: Claudia (Rick) Busch, Kathy (Rick) Ginestra, Marcus Flathman, and Jeff (Coleen) Flathman. She is also survived by the children from her previous marriage to Viggo Hansen: Alex Hansen, Anne Cegon, Mark (R. Debra) Hansen; brother-n-law Vern Hunzeker; and the late Kathryn Cosic, beloved wife of John Cosic.

Eleanor was a proud grandmother to Pieter Hansen, Paul Hansen, and Ellen Hansen (children of Mark and Debra Hansen); Ian Cosic (son of Kathryn and John Cosic); Colin Flathman and Christian Flathman (sons of Jeff and Coleen Flathman); Sonia Flathman and Kai Flathman (children of Marcus Flathman); Sarah Ritman, Emily Ritman, Rachel (Curtis) Edwards, and Lauren (Logan) Borzansky (daughters of Kathy Ginestra); Kevin (Bianca) Busch and Angela (Ben) Denker (children of Claudia and Rick Busch). She also delighted in her role as a great-grandmother. Eleanor’s legacy of love and kindness lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Eleanor’s life was marked by her deep faith and commitment to helping others. She dedicated her early years to teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, working as a nurse, co-managing an apartment house for the deaf, and helping with all the duties of a minister’s wife in her marriage to Jerry Flathman. She sang in church choirs wherever she lived and played organ in every church that needed her. In her later years, she found joy and purpose in quilting and rolling bandages to support Lutheran World Relief. And she was famous for baking and gifting the most wonderful, home-made bread. 

Eleanor made many transitions in life, both in purpose and location. Her guiding sentiment was, “Bloom where you are planted.” In this, she excelled, bringing faith, optimism, resilience, love, and compassion to every chapter of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Lutheran World Relief at www.LWR.org in Eleanor's memory.

Reverend John Stiles will officiate funeral services for Eleanor: 11 AM; Friday, January 17, 2025 with a time of visitation one hour prior to the service at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Pine City. Interment will take place at a later date at Immanuel Lutheran Fairview Cemetery in Rushville, Nebraska.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com