June Flanary

Longtime St. Charles resident Elizabeth June Flanary, 98, died Sunday, February 9, 2025 at Fairview Care Center in Dodge Center.

June was born on May 13, 1926 in Minneapolis MN to Phillip and Alice Bray. The family lived in several cities in the midwest before they moved to Winona where they settled to raise June and her brother Bill. June was a caring older sister from a young age, forging a lifelong friendship. Bill and June remained close all their lives.

June met James Flanary, a young veterinarian from St. Charles, and they were married on June 25, 1949 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Rochester. They built a house next door to the vet clinic in St. Charles and raised their 6 children there. June’s Mom spent much time with the family during those years and handed down to June the spirit of selflessness and helping others. Once the children were all in school, June enrolled at Winona State College where she delighted in learning about all sorts of subjects. She kept a lifelong interest in learning. She graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She substitute taught at St. Charles schools.

June made many friends in St. Charles and was an active community member. She devoted much effort to getting the Community Food Shelf up and running at the St. Charles Resource Center. She was a member of St. Ann’s Society at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and served on the board for the Winona County Historical Society. She volunteered for Season’s Hospice, enjoying going out to visit and offering help to people during their difficult times. She also enjoyed being a member of her book club. 

As a child and young adult, June spent many enjoyable hours on the golf course, and it inspired a lifelong passion for the sport. June shared her passion for golf with her family, and she and her husband Jim would take the whole family out on the course at Whitewater State Park and later played often at Chatfield and St. Charles courses. Her interest in the sport remained steadfast throughout her life.

June and Jim enjoyed traveling and took many trips together. After his death in 2001, June continued taking trips, joining her kids for adventures. She made several trips to take in life in remote areas of Mexico. She went boating around icebergs and whale watching and fishing in Alaska with her kids and grandkids. She hiked with her family in Montana and traveled around Spain.

She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, hiking, biking, tennis, cross country skiing, and boating on the river. She also enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles.

Perhaps her biggest source of enjoyment was meeting and talking with people, hearing their stories, and sharing a laugh. She loved seeing old friends and meeting new people. She had a special gift for really listening to the people she was with. She shared many laughs with her children’s friends and kept in touch with them through the years, and she created special bonds with her grandchildren. Her gift of connecting with people was extraordinary.

She is survived by her children: Pat (Sue) Flanary, Kathy Flanary, Elizabeth Flanary, Susan Flanary (Don Thorsteinson), Mark (Suzanne) Flanary, Joe Flanary (Natacha Rosas); grandchildren: Meghan Flanary, Sarah Flanary, James Flanary, Jon Thorsteinson, Charlie Flanary; great grandson Travis Thorsteinson; sisters in law: Lillian Bray, Annette Flanary.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Flanary, grandson Kris Thorsteinson, and brother Bill Bray.

Memorials are preferred to St. Charles Foundation for Academic Excellence. 600 East 6th Street, St. Charles, MN 55972. 

Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 from 4pm to 7pm at Hoff Funeral Home in St. Charles. The funeral will be on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Charles at 11am with one hour of visitation prior to the funeral.