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Oct. 7, 1961-July 9, 2024

 

Brian was the only son of Edward J. Flick and Betty J. Weiser. Both deceased from Niles. He was born in Niles, Michigan on Oct. 7, 1961.

Despite having a 160 IQ and almost going to work for NASA, Brian stayed in Niles and near his parents his whole life. Brian graduated from Niles high school in 1980 and graduated from Trinidad State College in Colorado with a degree in Gunsmithing in 1982. He married Kelly Jackson in 1988 and they have 3 children, Alex (30) Autumn (25) and Andrew (25). And 3 grandchildren Harper (4), Willow (2) and Beau (7 months)

Brian was very inquisitive from a young age, often pondering life’s biggest questions. He encouraged his children to do the same and to be independent thinkers.

Brian is survived by siblings Judi Lunger (Gary) of Forney, Texas; Martha (Muff) Jungenberg (Todd) currently serving in the U.S. Foreign Service in La Paz, Bolivia; Shelly Hegland (Gary) of South Bend; and Missy Hatch (Jeff) of Dowagiac. Brian had two remaining Aunts, Mary Helen Hoadley (94) in San Luis Obispo, CA and Patricia (Aunt Pat) Flick in Fenton, Michigan. Brian had 4 cousins in California and Oregon (Kathy Brandt, Nancy Benica, and Fred and Rod Hoadley) and his cousin Meghan (Schmelzer) in Fenton, Michigan.

He also “adopted” a sister Sharon Rayburn in 2000 when Sharon and his bestfriend Mark got married. Mark and Sharon took Brian into their home in March of this year when it was below freezing and his furnace wasn’t working. Mark drove Brian to all his doctor appointments despite having some serious health issues of his own. Brian was very lucky to have had such amazing friends. Rick Ranft, Doug Kinney, and Rusty Woofter all stepped up to help Brian in many ways as well. Rick lived close to Hanson House hospice in Stevensville and visited Brian almost every day and sometimes twice a day.

Brian lived alone and his oldest son Alex came to check on his dad twice a day every day. Andrew and his wife Savannah took Brian into their home even though they had their hands full with their two young daughters Harper and Willow. And Autumn made Brian so happy whenever she brought his only grandson (and Brian’s doppleganger) Beau (born in November 2023 to Autumn and Nikoda Keefer) to visit him.

Brian’s nieces and nephews are Taylor (Lunger) Wood (Dillon), Sophia, Grace, and Emmalee Jungenberg, Sydney Hatch, and Jack Hegland. Great nieces Charlee and Berklee Wood.

Brian had his journeyman card and worked for several tool and die shops over the years. And he was the owner and CEO of BriFlick Productions, making digitized home movies with music for many satisfied customers. Brian highly valued independence. He found great joy in owning his own company so that he could be his own boss. Brian had a love for all things film related – from his company remastering film, to videotaping memories from his own family’s life, he loved to capture and view history through the lens of a camera.

He loved to go deer hunting every year. Also going fishing and playing or watching golf which reminded him of his dad. Watching and talking about movies with his sister Muff. His children have fond memories of walking across the street to Family Video, picking out movies and snacks, and watching old movies together. As well as the countless hours spent hunting, fishing, and treasure hunting with metal detectors.  Another hobby of Brian’s was flying a small Cessna after obtaining his pilot’s license.

When he was in high school he got his picture in the Niles Daily Star for taking his canoe from Magician, Michigan (the start of the St. Joe River) all the way to Lake Michigan. He and his buddy Ronnie Myers (who now lives in Perth, Australia) had to portage and camp out and it took them 7 days.

Brian’s greatest achievement besides his children was maintaining friendships with his “magnificent seven” buddies. The core group was Brian, Mark Rayburn, Rick Ranft, Ronnie Myers, Tom Maple, Rusty Woofter, and Mike (Led) Zechelin. Unfortunately, Brian was preceded in death by Led who was killed in a car accident on the bypass in Niles in 1988 at the age of 26. Those closest to Brian know he never got over the death of his good friend Led. It was through the passing of his dear friend Led that Brian’s home movie business was born when he learned the value of commemorating life through film. Even though Brian wasn’t religious, the rest of us can believe that Brian and Led are together again, listening to Zeppelin in heaven.

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