Vivian Flickinger

Vivian Flickinger, loving wife and mother of two children, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Waterford, Michigan, surrounded by the love of her family.
Vivian was born on July 28, 1936, in Wilmot Township, Michigan, to Carl and Martha (Nee: Morris) Dunham. She went to Vanderbilt High School and shortly after married her childhood sweetheart, William Flickinger. They raised their children, Julie and Craig, in Utica, Michigan. Vivian worked numerous jobs through the years including Federals Department Store, a vitamin factory, a pickle factory and as a school bus driver for Utica Community Schools. Eventually she and her husband moved to Waterford and became proud proprietors of a convenient store in Pontiac for 25 years. When Bill retired in 1997, they moved back to Vanderbilt. Vivian continued working for several years in Vanderbilt at Ell-Tron and at an electronic panel board manufacturing company in Gaylord until she finally retired.
Vivian's hobbies were sewing, needlepoint, and crocheting afghans. Each family member was the proud recipient of one of her crocheted masterpieces. Vivian helped her husband with his garden and together they shared their bounty with anyone lucky enough to be called friend or family. She enjoyed camping with Bill and her two cats, Boots and Peanut, who occasionally gave Vivian a scare by disappearing and making Vivian alert the entire campground to look for him. Vivian also loved playing pinochle with friends, and going to garage sales with Bill, always excited to tell everyone about her treasure finds. Vivian made the best venison, mashed potatoes and gravy in town, it was always a highlight at family gatherings. She enjoyed watching movies on DVDs and over time managed to collect a couple hundred. She also loved listening to Bill and Gloria Gaither music. Above all, she loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, William; her son, Craig; her daughter-in-law, Jackie; her granddaughter, Shannon; her father, Carl; her mother, Martha; her sisters, Zoldia and Marjorie; and her brothers, Eddie, Charles, and Fred.
She is survived by her daughter, Julie (Ron) Koshewitz of Stuart, Florida; plus seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Kenny) Hmaydani of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, David (Laura) Koshewitz of White Lake, Michigan, Sam (Alexis) Flickinger of Hemlock, Michigan, Jonathan (Carson) Koshewitz of Lake Orion, Michigan, Megan (Larry) Hernandez of Lincoln Park, Michigan, Tyler Flickinger of Royal Oak, Michigan, Elise Flickinger of Brighton, Michigan; her three great-grandchildren, Bryce Hernandez of Lincoln Park, and Timothy and Ezekiel Koshewitz of White Lake,; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 17,2025 at 2:30 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Community Church, 455 W. Main Street, Vanderbilt, Michigan. Visitation will be held the same day at the Vanderbilt Community Church from 2:00 until the time of service.
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Vanderbilt Community Church by mail at PO Box 1, Vanderbilt, MI 49795.
Please share your stories and memories of Vivian at the "Share a Memory" section. Arrangements entrusted to Nelsons Cremation & Funeral Services, Gaylord, Michigan. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vivian, please visit our floral store.