UPDATE: Jack’s celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 24th 2017 at Armstrong Woods picnic area located at 17000 Armstrong woods Rd. Guerneville, CA from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Jack Fleckenstein passed away the night of APRIL 28th. Jack is the father of Sonoma-Lake-Napa Battalion Chief Paul Fleckenstein. The Fleckenstein family is saddened by this loss, and remembers the stories that Jack would tell of his time with CDF in Mendocino and Sonoma from 1948 to 1980, before he retired from an injury. He was a firefighter through and through and still listened to the scanner for as long as anyone can remember. His time at CDF and as a Combat Engineer in the Army will not be forgotten. Paul and I will keep you informed of an upcoming service probably in June.
Jack started his state service with the Division of Beach and Parks as a seasonal in 1945 and permanent employee in 1946. In 1948 Jack began work as a seasonal firefighter with the Division of Forestry at the Armstrong Grove station in Armstrong Grove State Park. Jack also became permanent with the Division of Forestry in 1948. In fact, what is remarkable about Jack is that he worked at many locations that no longer exist except in the history of CAL FIRE. Jack worked at stations such as Mendosoma, Rockport and Sonoma County Airport. Jack was a part of CAL FIRE history that exists now only in photographs, documents and memories.
Jack spent most of his career working in the Mendocino and Sonoma Ranger Units. In fact, Jack’s first supervisor at Armstrong Grove Station was none other than Fire Apparatus Engineer Byron Carniglia (retiring as Unit Chief of LNU in 2004 with 55 years of Service). Jack worked for the Division of Forestry and the Department of Forestry for 32 years, retiring in 1980.
A private ceremony for Jack will be planned for sometime in June.
Please keep Jack, Paul and his family in your thoughts.
Paul requests that, in lieu of flowers and cards, donations be made to the Forestry Crab feed in Jacks honor.
Cards can be sent to Paul at:
The Fleckenstein Family
558 Sherman St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448