Sara Ann (Reimer) Flaming, much loved mother of Rachel (Armer), Saralyn (May), Victor Jr., and Bob Jr., passed into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ peacefully on February 2nd, 2024, in Fairbury, NE. Sara Ann was 92 years old. She was preceded in death by both of her husbands, Victor A Flaming Sr (died 1957) and Bob A Flaming Sr. (died 2023). Her health had been steadily declining since the passing of Bob in late October 2023, and her greatest desire was to join him in heaven. In recent months she often sang the words of the hymn “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through…”
Born west of Corn, Oklahoma on October 5, 1931, Sara Ann was the youngest child of Cornelius F. and Sara (Bergmann) Reimer. She has now joined her eight older siblings, who all predeceased her. She was raised on the farm near Corn, as part of the strong Mennonite Brethren community that had homesteaded in that area of the country. As a member of that community, she attended the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church. She believed in the Lord Jesus Christ at a young age and went on to do her high school studies at Corn Bible Academy. While at CBA she came to know her future husband, Victor “Vic” Flaming and taught a Wednesday night Bible class together with him for elementary students.
After graduating CBA in 1949, Sara Ann went on to Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, where she studied to be a teacher. She started dating Vic during her freshman year and they were married on July 6, 1952, in the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church. The young couple started their married life together in a “tiny one bedroom house in a large yard, a block over from church” in Premont Texas. During the four years that they were in Premont, they spent many pleasant occasions with Vic’s family who lived close by, and attended the Premont Mennonite Brethren church with many friends and relatives. It was also during these years that Rachel and Saralyn joined the family.
In preparation for future missions work, Sara Ann and Vic moved to Fresno, California, where Victor attended the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary and worked as a dairy tester. Vic was called home on January 10, 1957, and Sara Ann returned to Premont where she and her daughters were joined by her son, Victor Jr., later that year. For the next several years her focus was to make a happy home for the three children. The Lord sustained her through those dark days with His comfort and the love and kindness of many friends.
In 1960, Sara Ann took her three children to Hillsboro, Kansas, where she continued her education at Tabor College with the intention of graduating with a degree in education. During these years she attended Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church, which became her home church for the remainder of her life. She enjoyed visits from many different family members, and especially Vic’s younger brother, Bob, became a frequent visitor as he worked in the region. Sara Ann and Bob were married at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in August 1962, and moved to Longview Texas, where Bob attended LeTourneau College.
After finishing at LeTourneau College, Sara Ann and Bob became missionaries with Trans World Radio on the island of Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean in 1966. The family was blessed to be joined by Bob Jr., in 1968. Besides her primary role as wife and mother, Sara Ann helped in the English mail department and as a receptionist. Other areas of service included singing in the TWR recording choir, and scheduling the TWR guest house. She also engaged often using her gift of hospitality. Their church was the wonderful TWR Fellowship.
In addition to her direct connections at TWR the Lord also gave opportunities for her to connect with various ladies and families on the island itself. Either as neighbors, or through common experiences with her loss of a spouse being able to encourage others who lost spouses on the island. At times the language barrier was a challenge, but she still tried to push through that out of her warmth, friendliness, and caring - by visiting, or opening her home.
In 1994, Sara Ann and Bob were transferred to the TWR International Headquarters in Cary, NC, to meet a need there. Once again Sara Ann focused primarily on being a wife and homemaker, but also helped out at the TWR office in various small ways, and continued serving through her gift of hospitality. They were blessed to attend the Cary Alliance Church while living in Cary.
Besides always ministering God’s love to those right around them, Sara Ann and Bob both were continuously deeply encouraged and blessed to get to have a part, along with their deeply valued supporters, and many others, in reaching countless lives for Christ through their involvement in the missionary radio work and ministry of TWR.
Sara Ann and Bob moved to Hillsboro, KS, in 2014, and were delighted to be able to attend Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church there. In 2020 they moved to Fairbury, NE, to the Heritage Care Center, where they’ve received excellent care, and have been near Vic and Gwen.
Sara Ann is survived by her 4 children, 2 daughters-in-law (Gwen Flaming and Michele Flaming), 8 grandchildren, and 3 great-granddaughters. One grandson, Nic Flaming predeceased her.
A Memorial Service is planned for Sat., Feb 17, 2024, at 2:00 pm Central Time, at Parkview M.B. Church in Hillsboro, Kansas. Livestream attending will be possible, through: parkviewmb.com, on “Watch Now” in the menu. Your presence either in person, or virtually, will be most meaningful and appreciated.
Memorial donations can be made to International Training Partners (itpartners.org), designated for “Vic and Gwen Flaming’s ministry” per her desires, as a memorial for Sara Ann Flaming.