Cecil Gene Flynn, son of William Charles Flynn, Jr. and Lillie Inez (Maltsberger) Flynn, was born on August 27, 1928, on a farm near Essex, Iowa. He was the youngest of thirteen children. He passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2007, at the Shenandoah Medical Center following a brief illness at the age of 79.

At a young age, Cecil moved with his family to Shenandoah and received his education from the Shenandoah Community Schools. As a young man Cecil helped his mother with the income he received working at the nurseries. On November 29, 1946, Cecil was united in marriage to Emma Maxine Smith at Hiawatha, Kansas. Following their marriage they made their home with his mother. To this union were born four children, Michael Gene, Sharon Kay, Patrick Vernon and Danny Keith.

When he began working full-time, he worked for Scharp Sanitation then Gerald Youngberg Implement and Saunders Dairy. In 1950 he had a serious back operation but against doctor's orders continued to work for the Stevens Brothers oiling roads. In April of 1955 he began working for Nishna Valley Lumber Co. and put in over 40 years there before eventually retiring from Miller Building Supply after six years. Cecil was very good with carpentry work and hauled many loads of lumber over the years. In the winter he cleared snow from driveways while working at the lumberyard. Very much an outdoors person, Cecil enjoyed mowing lawns in the summer and proudly kept his grass perfectly clipped. In addition to working at the lumberyard, he hauled livestock for the Stevens Brothers from time to time and was a member of the Shenandoah Fire Department. In his spare time, he enjoyed working in his garage shop. During his middle aged years he liked to ride his horse Goldie and was active in the Nishna Valley Saddle Club. He claimed to be the #1 Nebraska Cornhusker football fan. Proof of this was his dog named "Husker". He was endeared to his grandchildren by all the $2 bills he loved to give them.

Preceding Cecil in death were his parents; two infant siblings; four sisters, Alice Scharp, Lois Stake, Mabel Meads and Bessie Reed; three brothers, Russel, Willard and Willis Flynn. He is survived by his wife of over 61 years, Maxine of Shenandoah; sons, Michael Gene and Patrick Vernon, both of Shenandoah and Danny Keith Flynn of Clive, IA; daughter, Sharon Kaye Riley and her husband Jerry of Parsons, KS; 10 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; one brother, Wallace Flynn of Shenandoah; two sisters, Hazel Blakeley of Centennial, CO, and Audrey Flynn of Omaha, NE; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held from the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah, Iowa on Monday, December 31, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. Words of Comfort were given by Rev. Jack Langley. Musical selections included "Amazing Grace", "Long, Black Train", "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", and "You Lift Me Up". Casket Bearers were Pat Riley, Chad McClintock, Mark Flynn, Jake Cowden, Jerry Scharp, Alan Stogdill, Ivan Flynn, and Jason Heard. Honorary Casket Bearers were Bill Sharp, Harold Rowan, Jack Stake, Willard Skinner, Wayne Briggs, Calvin Carpenter, Raymond Herold, Eldon Bartles, and Rawson Stevens. The Memory Register was attended by Marjorie Scharp, Phyllis Rowan, Marlene McLaren, and Marci Riley. Caring for flowers were Carolyn West, Nancy Heard, Donna Rae Morey, Deloris Carlson, Mary Preston, Jody Blakeley, and Lorilee Branting. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials in lieu of flowers, are being directed to the Blind Children's Learning Center (BCLC) in Honor of Nora E. Flynn.