Douglas Charles “Ace” Flager, 96, passed away at Cascade Senior Care Center Thursday October 16, 2025 under hospice care – sharp as a tack until an untimely fall in his last days. A church service celebrating his life will be held November 8, 2025 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 11151 US12 Brooklyn, Michigan at 11AM. Doors to the church will open at 9:30AM to allow those attending to share memories of Doug. Doug was born on September 7, 1929 to Vernon and Lola Flager – the youngest of seven children. The family moved around a bit before settling in Brooklyn, Michigan where Doug graduated high school and found his compass and the love of his life – Dorothy Schiel. They married and had two children – Bob and Debi – in the house they literally built from the ground up on Brix Highway. Doug thoroughly enjoyed his career at the Jackson County Highway Department working chiefly as a road grader covering miles and miles of roadway that he diligently kept track of in his trusty accordion folded county map until his last days. In retirement – they moved to Sturgis, Michigan to “putter around” and enjoy basking in the simpler lives led by the Amish community. They ultimately moved back toward family to pass along decades of know-how and lend a hand wherever and whenever that know-how could prove useful. He’ll be forever remembered for his perpetual gentle nature – never “hollering” (unless you count his faithful rendition of “Here Rattler Here” on truck rides), his suspenders to accompany any outfit, trips down to Grassy Lake to skip stones, his lead foot into “the asphalt jungle” to scour three grocery stores for the best deals, his thoughtfulness and concern for all things and reverence for the history behind them and his encyclopedia-like knowledge of University of Michigan football from Fielding Yost to Fritz Crisler to Bo Schembechler and everyone and everything in between amongst his countless other “Ace-isms”. There wasn’t a more complex man dedicated to simplicity. He truly was the family’s “Ace” in the hole and he will be missed immensely with each passing day. He was predeceased by his wife of over seventy-three years Dorothy, parents, siblings – Don, Evelyn, Florence, Melvin, Herb and Nora Ellen and his son-in-law Bob Wilson. He is survived by his son and his wife, his daughter, five grandsons, four great granddaughters and extended family. Arrangements with Purse Funeral Home. www.PurseFuneralHome.com
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