Kelman "Kel" Fligner's Obituary
Kelman “Kel” Fligner passed away unexpectedly on June 2, 2024 at his home in Lorain. He was born in Lorain, Ohio to Morris and Blanche (nee Kaplan) Fligner. He graduated from Lorain High School and upon his graduation went on to further his education at Baldwin Wallace College receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and Business Management.
He began his career in the grocery business in 1949 at the age of 10 working alongside his father and grandfather who owned and operated First Lorain Cut Rate Fruit Company, specializing in fruits and produce. In 1961 Kel purchased the store from his father. Kel’s son, Ben, continues to run the Supermarket with Kel’s adopted grandchildren Rafal and Zbigniew. The business began to grow and expand to what is now known as Fligner’s Supermarket. Since it’s inception, it has gone from 2000 to 28, 000 square feet, features the longest all custom meat counter in the United States, a bakery and catering department, and Great Lakes Smoked Meats (spearheaded by Kel’s son, Ben Fligner). It remains a fierce, independent competitor to the mega-supermarket chains of today, and in 2014, was voted the Best Single Store Operation in Ohio. Kel was looking forward to the June 22nd, 100th Anniversary Open House Celebration. Kel will be remembered for his fierce work ethic and saying, “This store is my whole life. I don’t have any hobbies. I don’t do anything else. I wouldn’t have it any other way”. He believed that the employees of Fligner’s were a part of his family and genuinely cared for them. He really put his heart and soul into the store.
Kel was a member of the Agudath B’nai Israel Synagogue where he served as president for 2 years and was also a member of Temple B’nai Abraham. He served as a Lorain County Community College trustee for 5 years and as President of the Cleveland Food Dealers for 3 years.
He was extremely proud of his Polish heritage and proud to be a lifelong resident of Lorain. Kel will be remembered as a generous and caring man with a big heart and smile. He was a keen businessman who sought to make lasting relationships founded on trust, fairness, and respect.
Kel is survived by his sons, Benjamin (Stephanie, nee Tammaro) Fligner, and Jonathan (Elizabeth, nee Smith) Fligner; grandchildren, Zachary, Gavin, Christina and Amanda Fligner; ; sister, Toby Kleinman; sister-in-law, Susan Peters; nieces and nephew, Brent, Heather, Jennifer ( Jim); adopted grandchildren, Rafal (Magdalena) Citak, Tomasz (Lizbeth) Citak, Zbigniew (Monika) Citak, Adam (Rachel) Citak, and Marcin Citak; great-grandchildren, Tomasz Jr., Liz Marie, Daniel, Konrad, Dawid, Jakub, Sebastian, Zuzanna, and Izabela Citak; adopted family, Kazimierz and Anna Citak;
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Marilyn; parents, Morris and Blanche Fligner; grandparents, Harry and Lena Fligner; sister, Carol Golechin; and brother-in-law, Sheldon Golechin.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 9, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Private family interment will take place later.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions be made in memory of Kel to the Kel Fligner Memorial Scholarship Fund at Lorain County Community College. https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/stiBzw?vid=15x70d
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
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