Lyle Andrew “Andy” Flummerfelt passed away April 14, in Hutchinson, Kans.
He was born December 26, 1947, in Dodge City, Kans., to A.A. “Buck” and Virginia (Lyle) Flummerfelt.
He was raised in Ulysses, nd graduated from Grant County Rural High School in 1965. He then graduated from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kans.
In October 1968, he joined the United States Army. He started Basic Training in Fort Bliss, Texas and went on to Advanced Individual Training as a combat engineer and also Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) school at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from September 1969 to June 1971.
Andy spent a total of one year nine months in Vietnam. For 15 months, as a Sergeant E-5, he took charge of his men to do mine sweeps of roads, clear old French mine fields, help build roads and rappelled out of helicopters into the dense uncut jungles to clear landing zones and build firebases for the artillery and infantry.
He especially liked using C4 explosives to blow down trees for approaches and exits from landing zones. On one occasion his chopper was shot down and as it fell it hung up in the trees and he fell to the ground safely. He spent the last six months back in the rear doing reports for his commanding officer.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, he moved back to Ulysses and went to work for The Happy Painters. They were well known in Southwest Kansas for working hard and playing hard! Several years later he went to work for Woody’s Electric. The memories of those days in his life stayed with Andy forever. In 1982 Andy moved to Hutchinson and went to work at the Lowen Corporation for many years. He finished his work career at Graphic Impressions, retiring in 2015.
His hobbies were reading, listening to music, playing and watching softball, socializing with friends, and spending time with his family. Andy was always known and loved for his kind heart, his quick wit and his great sense of humor.
He is survived by his beloved daughter, Erica Flummerfelt, Hutchinson, who not only loved Andy as her dad, but as her best friend. He is also survived by stepson, Matt Gillespie, and his four children of Knoxville, Tenn.; brothers: Roger Flummerfelt and Tommy Flummerfelt; and sister, Mary Jo Zerr and husband, Greg, all of Ulysses; his nieces: Ginny, Heather, and Megan and their families; numerous other family and lifetime friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Roberta Flummerfelt.
Military graveside services took place April 22.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Andy Flummerfelt Memorial Fund in care of Golden Plains Credit Union, PO Box 868, Ulysses, KS.
