James Theodore Fluvog M.D.

JAMES THEODORE FLUVOG, M.D.
FEBRUARY 25, 1924 - JANUARY 5, 2015
James Theodore Fluvog, M.D. entered his heavenly home on January 5, 2015 leaving  behind his wife of 68 years, Leonora, his three children, daughter Margaret Luebke (William), son James Fluvog, and daughter Karen Conran (Michael) as well as two grandsons, Eric and James Luebke, and 5 great grandchildren. Predeceasing him were his  parents, Adolf and Oline Fluvog, brother Dr. Philip Fluvog of Seattle and sister, Ruth  Fluvog of Grand Forks, ND.
Born on the family farm in Barton, ND, he received his early education in a one room  country school following which he entered Jamestown College with the intent of  becoming a doctor. After one year World War II intervened, and he entered the ROTC  program at the University of California at Berkeley, which led to his commissioning as an  ensign in the Navy and to his engagement to his future wife, Leonora Kyle. Upon his  discharge they were married on September 7, 1946. Returning to Cal, he completed his  undergraduate work and entered Stanford Medical School, receiving his M.D. degree in  1954. He served his internship at Highland Hospital in Oakland and a residency in chest diseases at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro. After working briefly at Contra Costa  County Hospital, he moved to Modesto as the first Director of Tuberculosis and Chief of Chest Diseases for Stanislaus County Hospital, later to become Scenic General Hospital.  In 1964 he went into private practice and also became Consultant in Chest Diseases for  the Stanislaus, Merced, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mariposa County Health Departments. 
Dr Fluvog was a member of a number of professional societies related to chest diseases  and, during his 30 year career in Stanislaus County, he served on various boards and held  various offices at Scenic and City Hospitals. He also was the first to teach CPR to the Modesto Fire Department when that was a new procedure and was responsible, through  talks at various schools and organizations, for making many smokers feel guilty. In his spare time, which was little, he designed a new bronchoscope which permitted physicians to see and patients to breathe at the same time, a new concept at the time.
Dr. Fluvog was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church serving as congregation president and lay minister as well as singing in the choir for a number of years and working  on various committees and projects.
He was a "people person," friendly, and making everyone who met him immediately comfortable. He was immensely proud of his Norwegian ancestry and of his Midwestern farm upbringing. He felt a keen responsibility for his patients and was a loving and beloved  head of his family. His kind and happy nature was a joy to all. He will be missed.
Visitation will be Wednesday evening, January 14, between 4 and 8 PM at Salas Brothers Funeral Home. Graveside service will be at 11 AM, January 15, at Lakewood Cemetery, and a Memorial Service will follow at 2 PM at Grace Lutheran Church, 617 W Orangeburg Ave., Modesto, CA. If desired, memorials may be sent to Grace Lutheran Church at the above address.
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