Tommie "Tom" Lee Flugel, age 77, a lifetime resident of rural Northeast Washington passed away on June 23, 2024 in Colville, WA. after a long illness.  Tom was born in Colville, the son of Milton Carl and Jean Faye (Snoddy) Flugel.

Tom's family resided in several Pacific Northwest communities during his childhood as they followed logging opportunities.  Tom's grade school years began in Kettle Falls, WA and then the family moved to Orofino, ID and Hunters, WA for junior high school before they settled in Chewelah, WA.  There Tom excelled in education and every sport he played, which included football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.  While in high school, he met Lynn Charlene Lindquist, the only girl he would ever date. Tom graduated as the class Valedictorian in 1965 and within days, on June 26, 1965, he and Lynn exchanged wedding vows.  Together they were off to Cheney, WA where Tom had earned a full ride football scholarship at Eastern Washington State College.  As the family grew, they moved from Married Student Court in Cheney to Spokane. Tom attended school and worked nights to support his growing family. In 1969 Tom graduated with a teaching degree and got his first job in Inchelium, WA, where he would spend the next 15 years.  Tom worked as a teacher, coach, bus driver, and referee during the school year.  He would spend his summers logging and later worked on construction projects throughout the community. In 1984, he and his family moved to Colville where Tom began teaching at Colville Junior High School and continued to coach multiple sports.  During this time, Tom earned his Master's Degree in Administration from Gonzaga University.  His first principal job was at the Kettle Falls Middle School in 1989. After two years in Kettle Falls he returned to Colville where he retired as the Junior High principal in 2005.  That next year, he helped in the Chewelah School District with a "retire-rehire" opportunity as principal for one year.  In 2004, Tom lost the love of his life, Lynn, in an automobile accident.  He missed her every day, thought of her in every moment, and shared her legacy of love with his grandchildren year after year.  Tom's grandchildren became his passion.  He was a benchwarmer at nearly every event and even as his health declined, Tom was there to guide, encourage, and pour his love into those kids.

Tom was an avid outdoorsman where he enjoyed snow skiing, fishing, and hunting.  For years they made annual trips to the Blue Mountains and Wapaloosie, where they gathered at hunting camp and created fantastic memories.  Tom had a memorable antelope hunt given as a retirement gift from his Colville Jr. High staff of which he often reminisced.   He also shared his love of the outdoors with hundreds of young hunters (including his own grandchildren) as one of the community Hunter's Education instructors for many years.  Over the years he loved playing sports in a variety of community leagues and maintained his extraordinary athleticism throughout his early life.  Tom enjoyed coaching each of his children in numerous sports.  He had a larger-than-life presence and was a role model and gentle encourager to so many.  He lifted others with his always positive influence even when his own health continued to decline. Tom was rooted in the love of his family and would create timeless memories with them over the years at their timeshare in Fairmont Hot Springs and the family cabin on Curlew Lake. Camping adventures, hunting expeditions, golfing excursions, coaching, watching and attending his own children's and then his grandchildren's sporting events, were are all things that Tom enjoyed most in life.  He was old school in principle, timeless with his love, and a legend in life. Tom lived by the standard, "Family comes first… nothing means more… alone we crawl… together we soar."

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Jean Flugel, his brother Dick Flugel, and the love of his life, his wife, Lynn Flugel.

Tom is survived by his three children; Tammara "Tammy" Thomas (Scott) of Colville, WA, Tracy Flugel (Brandi) of Colville, WA, and Tara Groves (Randy) of Spokane, WA;  grandchildren, Rylee Wittmeyer and Jessica Morrison (Jesse), Brayden (Maggie), Dawson and Cooper Flugel, Tanner, Jacob, and Dylynn Groves; great-grandchildren Teagan and Taytum Morrison; sister, Donna James (Roger) of Colville, WA, and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of extended family and friends, including his best buddy Vince Johnson.

The memorial service for Mr. Tom Flugel will begin at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 28, 2024 at the Colville Community Church in Colville, WA.  A graveside service and vault interment will follow the memorial service at the Mountain View Park Cemetery in Colville, WA.  Memorial contributions may be given to the Arthritis Foundation.  Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com.  Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.