John Lee Flick

John Lee Flick, of Palm Springs, California, passed away peacefully at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage with his family by his side after a short illness.
Originally from Fremont, Ohio, after his service in the United States Air Force, and pursuing a lifelong love of airplanes, he went west to California to work in the aerospace industry. After meeting his wife, Gisela, while on vacation in 1968, they started a family in Torrance, California with Ralph, born in 1969, and Mark in 1973, later moving to Cerritos, California. The young family loved spending time skiing, scuba diving, boating at local lakes and rivers, and traveling.
After beginning his career at Hughes Aircraft, John worked as a sheet metal mechanic for Continental Airlines and then Western Airlines before moving back into manufacturing at McDonnell Douglas and then to Boeing after the merger. After retirement, he continued to work in the industry as an FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative.
In retirement, John and Gisela moved to Palm Springs where they enjoyed the desert lifestyle and where John had his beloved Cessna 172 at the Palm Springs airport. He loved spending time working on his airplane with his friends at the airport.
John's most enduring role, however, was as a devoted grandfather to his four grandchildren. He loved to spend time with them, having them come visit and swim in the pool in Palm Springs, and watching them grow.
John is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gisela Flick, his sons Ralph Flick (Wendy Flick) and Mark Flick (Jennifer Flick) and grandchildren Noah, Natalie, Mia, and Evan. John was preceded in death by his sister Barbara Borer and his brother Roger Flick, both of Fremont, Ohio. John will be interred at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California in a private ceremony.