John Arthur Fleig

John Arthur Fleig was a true believer in Jesus Christ and known to often comment, “Oh, This--whatever it was-- is something that does not matter. God knows where I am.” And on May 1, 2025 God knew that John was passing from this earthly life while at his home on Choupique Road, south of Sulphur, Louisiana. John was the second son born to Marie Ecker and William Russell Fleig of Orange, Texas.

Keeping things in the family, John’s birth on November 18, 1940 took place at the home of his grandparents Issac Solomon Ecker and Ona Lyons Ecker in Vinton, Louisiana with delivery by Dr. William F. Brooks who was Marie’s brother-in-law, husband of her sister Tabitha. After high school graduation in Orange, John graduated as the third generation from New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, New Mexico. He finished his education with a Bachelor’s Degree and US Military commission from Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, Texas. It was on a blind date at Sam Houston that John met Barbara (Babs) Werner. They would marry three years later in August 1963 between their separate graduations and start married life stationed with the US Army in Crailsheim, West Germany. Wearing the gold bar of a Second Lieutenant, John was a tank commander and crypto communications officer in the 3rd Battalion 37th Armor 4th Armored Division USAREUR. Discharged as a First Lieutenant, the couple returned to the states, living in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Decatur, Illinois where he was General Sales Manager for a pharmaceutical company. Then as John would say, he woke up one day and said, “What’s a boy from Louisiana doing with a snow shovel?” and so a move south to Dallas, Texas was in order. In time they made their way to Louisiana to build a home and live on land homesteaded by John’s grandfather in what locals call Choupique, Louisiana.

As a self-employed artist his limited-edition hand pulled silk screen serigraphs were sold in print galleries and shops to be hung on the walls of numerous homes and the offices of most major oil companies. As Uncle John he designed and sold plans and kits for small boats, pirogues, skiffs, jon boats. He also created and sold gingerbread millwork which trimmed the porches as well as interiors of many homes in the region and beyond. These and other artistic endeavors held his interest as he mastered each new skill. Then, with his return to Louisiana, John found high adventure hunting alligators for a couple of seasons. John was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Marie Fleig, his older brother Russell Brooks Fleig October 2, 2011 (age 76) and sister-in-law Catherine (Kit) Fleig on June 6, 2016 (age 77). John is survived by his wife of 61.5 years Barbara, daughters Jennifer Foster and husband Robert of Wraysbury, England, Valerie Whittom and husband Jon of Hahnville, Louisiana, son Jonathan Ross Fleig of Choupique (Sulphur) Louisiana, grandson Aiden Foster and Cleo of Datchet, England, nephew Russell Fleig and wife Karen of Dallas, nieces Catherine Marie (Cam) Sharpe and husband Larry of Choupique (Sulphur) Louisiana and Tuja Stuard of Ohio.

Our thanks to Chaplin Timothy Bergen and the nurses from Amedisys Hospice Care.

Although John wished that no service be planned, we reflect that such a gathering would be meaningful for those he left behind. Until a time that some sort of get together might be arranged, get your favorite John Fleig story ready and stay in touch.