Paul Fleer

Madison – Paul F. Fleer, age 97, passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 27, 2022, at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was born on October 19, 1924, the son of Frederick and Julia (Mott) Fleer in Chicago, Illinois. Paul served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII, where he was stationed in Northern England. On a weekend furlough, he met the love of his life, Beatrix Clarkson of Aberdeen, Scotland. Upon returning to the states, they were married in Caldwell, New Jersey, on February 15, 1947.

Paul graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts in 1949 with a BS in Physical Therapy and in 1951 with an MS in Education. From there he began his lifelong career serving in health care.

Paul and Bea settled in Wisconsin in the 1960s, first in Green Bay, where he became a devout Packer fan, and later in Madison, where he began his career in healthcare administration. He served as the Administrator of the Division of Chronic Disease and Aging with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and later as the Executive Director of the Health Planning Council, Inc. He then created Human Performance Associates and worked into his eighties.

Paul was a member of the Rotary Club of Madison, American Public Health Association, American Academy of Health Administration, and the First Unitarian Society.

His passion for life is evident in various activities that Paul shared with his family, including camping, hiking, canoeing, biking, golfing, and tennis. The family traveled to all fifty states, Canada and the US Virgin Islands. Paul was also an instrument-rated pilot and a member of the University of Wisconsin Flying Club. He enjoyed the arts and was a Madison Symphony Orchestra ticket holder for over forty years. He also played piano, saxophone and enjoyed photography.

Paul is survived by his wife, Beatrix Fleer; his children, Paul, Karen, Marjorie (Steven), David (Rita); grandchildren; Anna, Wesley, Andrea, Alison, (Andrew), Justin (Carmen), and Austin (Juliette); great-grandchildren; Madison, and Maisie.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Julia, his sister Ruth (Clyde) and brother Bill (Edith), and grandson Jeremy M. Wall.

Paul was a loving husband and father and viewed life as an opportunity to serve others. He cherished the adventure of life and lived it fully.

In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be sent to Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. https://www.secondharvestmadison.org/

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434