Jan "John" Marcus Flach, a proud and hard working European emigrant, passed away surrounded by loved ones on April 12, 2016. Jan was born in the Netherlands in 1927 to his parents, Jan and Aukje Flach. When Jan was a teenager during the war, he was caught violating curfew and was taken by the Nazi's and forced to work for them until Germany was liberated in 1945. After he was released, he returned to his homeland where he met the love of his life, Munda Mathijssen. They were married soon after and in 1952 they emigrated to America with their two small children Walter and Munda. Arriving in a foreign country with only the cash in their pockets and clothes on their backs, they made their way to Utah. With some help from local Mormon families, they made their first family home in America in a converted chicken coop. Jan immediately began working to make a better life for his family.
He worked multiple jobs at the same time for several years until he was finally able to go to trade school to learn how to repair small machines. He then began working as a typewriter repairman and eventually opened his own small machine repair business in Salt Lake City. He was passionate about knowing how things worked and always spent time tinkering with anything and everything he could get his hands on. He worked hard to be able to purchase a home in Salt Lake City where he and Munda had five additional children. He eventually purchased some land in the Kamas area and built a small cabin with his own hands for his family to enjoy. Jan had two horses, Beda and Stardan which he loved riding for hours in the hills. Jan loved the outdoors and such activities as hunting, fishing, and swimming in the river.
In his later years, he became very interested in gardening and always looked forward to spring and summer months so he could spend hours tending to his vegetable and flower gardens. He was an avid reader and was always interested in learning new things. Jan had a superb sense of humor and always made everyone around him laugh and smile. He was always quick with a joke or clever anecdote to lighten the mood. He was loved by many friends and family. Jan remains a shining example of human generosity and his life will continue to be an inspiration to all who knew him.
He is survived by his son Walter, daughters Munda, Janda, Tayanna and Teresa, twentyfour grandchildren and twentysix great grandchildren.
Jan was preceded in death by his beloved wife Munda and two beautiful daughters, Marshelle and Monique.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 12:00pm at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E South Temple in Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held on Sunday, April 24, 2016 from 6-8:00pm at the mortuary and from 11-11:45am on Monday prior to the service.
