Mr. Joel D. Flug, age 88, of Audubon, IA, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Unity Point Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, IA.
Joel Dee Flug was born in Anita at his parents’ home on June 4, 1937, to Daniel Flug and Evelyn Larsen Flug. He was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Adair. He attended a country school in Kirkman during his early years. They also lived in Harlan, and he went to Harlan School through the 9th grade. He then later obtained his GED. He helped on the farm after quitting school. Later, he worked for K&B Contractors, performing telephone construction. Then he met the love of his life, Helen Butcher. They dated for six months and were married on December 28, 1956. They moved south with his job.
They were blessed with six children. They moved frequently due to his job from 1956 to 1973. They settled in Audubon from 1974 to 1981. They moved several more times before retiring back in Audubon in 1999. They spent winters in Arizona from 1999 until 2013. Joel loved the mountains.
Joel enjoyed fishing and camping. He was an avid golfer and a really good pool player! Joel will be remembered for his humor and silly faces right up until the end. He bowled in many leagues over the years. He liked all kinds of cards and games. He enjoyed watching his Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Chiefs!
Family meant everything to Joel. He’d meet you at the door for a hug and always have another hug on the way out. Joel always had a great smile.
Joel was preceded in death by his son, Ricky Flug; his parents, Daniel and Evelyn Flug; his in-laws, Dewayne and Lucy Butcher; Three sisters, Judy Poulsen, Jean Christensen, and Sue Gaines; and one brother, Duane Flug.
Joel is survived by his loving wife for 68 years, Helen Flug of Audubon; Children, Richard (Elsie) Flug of Audubon, Sandy Flug of Buckeye, AZ, Lori (Gird) Sorensen of Carroll, Joel (Becky) Flug of Ankeny, Jeff (Violet) Flug of Newton; 21 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother Mike Flug of Harlan; and a brother-in-law, Vernon “Hook” Christensen.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA, with Rev. Cindy Johnson officiating the service. Visitation will be held prior to the service, starting at 9:30, also on Saturday, at the Church. A reception will be held following the memorial service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Flug Family, to be designated at a later date in memory of Joel. They may be mailed to Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.
Services are entrusted with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.
