Joseph T. Fleming

Joseph T. Fleming

August 22, 1954 - July 14, 2015

Joseph T. Fleming

August 22, 1954 - July 14, 2015

Obituary

Joseph Timothy Fleming’s charmed life came to a peaceful end on July 14, 2015, twenty months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Although he only graced this world for 60 years, Joe lived an amazing life filled with love, happiness, and adventure. The 7th of 12 children born to Edward and Elizabeth Fleming, Joe spent a happy childhood in Omaha, Nebraska surrounded by his 11 brothers and sisters and his many friends. He loved swimming and art and water skiing. Joe attended Creighton Prep before graduating from Mount Michael Benedictine school in 1972. After high school Joe was accepted and spent three years at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He left in 1975 to begin working.

In 1985, Joe moved to Southern California. He quickly met the love of his life and soulmate, Polly. They married and by 1988 had two sweet girls, Erin Elizabeth and Claire Elysse. Joe loved being a husband and dad. He loved coaching, volunteering in his girls’ classrooms, and spending weekends and summers exploring the western United States. The whole family loved traveling and have many happy memories of their fun-filled road trips along the west coast to Seattle, to Yellowstone, to Omaha, and to every state in the Western US. After Erin and Claire grew up and secured their own lives and careers, Joe and Polly continued their adventures traveling to Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and across the USA. Joe especially loved their annual treks up PCH, hiking the coastal peaks of California, and looking for wildlife.

In 1987, Joe began working at UCI Medical Center in Orange. He began as a painter, worked his way up, and finished his career as Superintendent of Plant in Facilities Management. He loved his job and his co-workers. He was grateful for the support he received during his illness. In addition to working at UCI, Joe was a patient there. He was given excellent care and credits the doctors, nurses, and technicians at UCI for helping him live a year beyond his initial prognosis.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Elizabeth Fleming and his nephew Leif Mauch. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Polly; his daughters Erin Elizabeth Fleming and Claire Elysse Fleming. He is also survived by his 11 brothers and sisters, Rosemary Fleming, Mike Fleming and wife Alice, Patti Fleming, John Fleming and wife Roxanne, Mary Kent and husband Jim, Dolores Mauch and husband Curt, Tom Fleming, Jane Fleming and husband Bob Henningsen, Paul Fleming and wife Bichon, Anne Comstock and husband Steve, and Kelly Fleming. In addition, Joe leaves behind many friends and family who will forever remember him as an all around good guy and solid person.

Joe’s family invites you to a celebration of his life at O’Connor Mortuary on July 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest. Visitation will be July 24th at 7:00 pm at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Chao Cancer Center at UCI Medical Center or to the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation.

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10 responses to Joseph T. Fleming

  1. We will miss you Joe, go chiefs.

  2. Joe was an amazing man who was filled with such dignity, love and compassion, and an honorable human being with a great ethical and moral compass. His sense of humor was literally bar none!!! I loved his diverse personality that encompassed everything good in a man. He was also an amazing father and husband. He was a “man’s man”, yet a big teddy bear, especially with his little girls, of whom he and Polly raised to be strong, loving and kind women. I feel truly blessed to have known him and to be a part of his, Polly and the girls’ lives, and to witness first hand all of his beautiful traits. I will miss him, and all of the fun – and hilarious- couples date nights we went on together, as well as the annual parties, special occasions and get togethers. He was a good and genuine soul who will be missed by all those who’s lives he had touched.

  3. Jim and I were alway so very grateful that such a wonderful and special man choice our wonderful youngest for his life time companion and wife and with her produced two such awesome daughters. What a tribute to life. Thank you. I know that God has already folded you up in his eternal arms and that you are at peace. All of us here still earth-bound miss you so very much, but celebrate your happiness,

  4. Donna Ray says:

    I remember what a wonderful host he was for Polly’s 50th birthday party. The most important thing is that he loved and was loved. Love to you and your family.

  5. I’m so sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. He was a great guy. I remember lots of good times and Joe’s dry sense of humor. I always admired your family and how much fun you all had together! Sending you my thoughts, prayers and love. Therese Jordan

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