Benjamin Fles, 87, of Bloomfield Hills, MI, and husband of 58 years to Edith, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2009.
Ben Fles was born in Muskegon, MI on July 24, 1921 to the late Henry Fles and Della Fles.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Albion College where he lettered in football and basketball, and was all conference in football. Following college, he served proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII. He would meet his future wife in Muskegon following the war. His family lived next door to her aunt and uncle.
Ben worked with overhead traveling cranes, and with Manning Maxwell Moore in Muskegon, before moving to Mendota, IL where he worked for Conco for almost 19 years. The next stop was Detroit where he took a position as executive Vice President with Northern Engineering as he and his wife settled in Bloomfield Township. Ben was a very hard-working man and would retire in 1985 only to go back to work and then retire again in 1988 for good.
In his free time, he enjoyed working around the yard, cutting grass and trimming trees. He and his wife also had a place in Wisconsin where they would spend time with the kids a couple of times a year. Ben was also a very good skier, and water skier. He also worked as a lifeguard on Lake Michigan. Ben always remained very active at Northbrook Presbyterian Church in Beverly Hills, MI.
He was survived by his wife of 58 years, Edith, and a daughter Paula Girard (Leigh). He is the loving grandfather of Lisa Austin (Chad) and Ryan Girard. He was preceded in death by a sister, Hermine Valk and two brothers, Dr. Robert Fles and Charles Fles.
Ben Fles was born in Muskegon, MI on July 24, 1921 to the late Henry Fles and Della Fles.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Albion College where he lettered in football and basketball, and was all conference in football. Following college, he served proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII. He would meet his future wife in Muskegon following the war. His family lived next door to her aunt and uncle.
Ben worked with overhead traveling cranes, and with Manning Maxwell Moore in Muskegon, before moving to Mendota, IL where he worked for Conco for almost 19 years. The next stop was Detroit where he took a position as executive Vice President with Northern Engineering as he and his wife settled in Bloomfield Township. Ben was a very hard-working man and would retire in 1985 only to go back to work and then retire again in 1988 for good.
In his free time, he enjoyed working around the yard, cutting grass and trimming trees. He and his wife also had a place in Wisconsin where they would spend time with the kids a couple of times a year. Ben was also a very good skier, and water skier. He also worked as a lifeguard on Lake Michigan. Ben always remained very active at Northbrook Presbyterian Church in Beverly Hills, MI.
He was survived by his wife of 58 years, Edith, and a daughter Paula Girard (Leigh). He is the loving grandfather of Lisa Austin (Chad) and Ryan Girard. He was preceded in death by a sister, Hermine Valk and two brothers, Dr. Robert Fles and Charles Fles.
Benjamin Fles, 87, of Bloomfield Hills, MI, and husband of 58 years to Edith, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2009.
Ben Fles was born in Muskegon, MI on July 24, 1921 to the late Henry Fles and Della Fles.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Albion College where he lettered in football and basketball, and was all conference in football. Following college, he served proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII. He would meet his future wife in Muskegon following the war. His family lived next door to her aunt and uncle.
Ben worked with overhead traveling cranes, and with Manning Maxwell Moore in Muskegon, before moving to Mendota, IL where he worked for Conco for almost 19 years. The next stop was Detroit where he took a position as executive Vice President with Northern Engineering as he and his wife settled in Bloomfield Township. Ben was a very hard-working man and would retire in 1985 only to go back to work and then retire again in 1988 for good.
In his free time, he enjoyed working around the yard, cutting grass and trimming trees. He and his wife also had a place in Wisconsin where they would spend time with the kids a couple of times a year. Ben was also a very good skier, and water skier. He also worked as a lifeguard on Lake Michigan. Ben always remained very active at Northbrook Presbyterian Church in Beverly Hills, MI.
He was survived by his wife of 58 years, Edith, and a daughter Paula Girard (Leigh). He is the loving grandfather of Lisa Austin (Chad) and Ryan Girard. He was preceded in death by a sister, Hermine Valk and two brothers, Dr. Robert Fles and Charles Fles.
Ben Fles was born in Muskegon, MI on July 24, 1921 to the late Henry Fles and Della Fles.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Albion College where he lettered in football and basketball, and was all conference in football. Following college, he served proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII. He would meet his future wife in Muskegon following the war. His family lived next door to her aunt and uncle.
Ben worked with overhead traveling cranes, and with Manning Maxwell Moore in Muskegon, before moving to Mendota, IL where he worked for Conco for almost 19 years. The next stop was Detroit where he took a position as executive Vice President with Northern Engineering as he and his wife settled in Bloomfield Township. Ben was a very hard-working man and would retire in 1985 only to go back to work and then retire again in 1988 for good.
In his free time, he enjoyed working around the yard, cutting grass and trimming trees. He and his wife also had a place in Wisconsin where they would spend time with the kids a couple of times a year. Ben was also a very good skier, and water skier. He also worked as a lifeguard on Lake Michigan. Ben always remained very active at Northbrook Presbyterian Church in Beverly Hills, MI.
He was survived by his wife of 58 years, Edith, and a daughter Paula Girard (Leigh). He is the loving grandfather of Lisa Austin (Chad) and Ryan Girard. He was preceded in death by a sister, Hermine Valk and two brothers, Dr. Robert Fles and Charles Fles.
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