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John was the second son of TW Flannagan and Clara May Smith, born on April 3rd, 1905 in St. Paul, Minnesota. John was tall and athletic and participated in both baseball and football in high school. Unlike his gregarious brother, Sam, John was a quiet person, but he could get excited in a conversation with his brothers and when reminiscing about great plays such as in professional football. He went to school in St. Paul at St. Paul Murray and St. Anthony Park University High School. He also went to the University of Minnesota for 2 years. He met and married Bernice Palmer, had one child, Thomas William, and ran a filling station, Standard Oil in St. Anthony Park. His sister-in-law, Deane, came up with the idea for him to start a Gamble store. With financial backing from his brother, Sam, and from his mother, John opened a Gamble store in Wahoo, Nebraska. Tom lived with him in an apartment above the store and in spite of his dad's strictness, ran wild in the streets of Wahoo. Bernice didn't fit in and did not think much of the small town life. After their divorce, John married Carol H. Anderson from Nebraska in Wahoo January 6th, 1943.
Because John was drafted into the Army, he had to give up his store. He was at the maximum age to be drafted. He served 3 years and achieved the rank of First Sergeant. After the service, John accepted a position as wholesale hardware salesman for Paxton and Gallagher in Omaha until he got the Ainsworth territory with Hinkle and Joyce. He was on the road from Monday through Friday for many years, covering a huge territory across the state of Nebraska.
In 1970 John and Carol moved to Ashland where more of her relatives lived. John enjoyed reading, golf, trap shooting, hand loading shells, restoring old guns, fishing and hunting. He talked a lot about gardening and enjoyed sports and history. He was a member of the Ashland Gun Club, The Ashland American Legion Club, Ashland Country Club, Post #129 and John also served on the Ashland Planning Commission.
After only one year of retirement (March of 1984), John died on August 3, l985 at age 80 due to liver cancer and is buried in the Ashland Cemetery.
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1905 - 1985 (80 years)
, d. 30 Sep 1931, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States