William “Max” Fluke, 90, of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, Ind., passed away at 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2014, at Grace Village Health Care.

After graduating high school he was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 3, 1943. He served during WWII as an Advanced Scout in Luzon and New Guinea, and was honorably discharged on Oct. 7, 1945.

He moved to Winona Lake in the summer of 1951 to attend Grace College and Seminary. In 1957 he and his family moved to Long Beach, Calif., and worked for the Brethren Home Missions building churches and preaching until 1962.

He moved back to Winona Lake, and from 1962-1969, he was the Buildings and Grounds superintendent of Grace Schools; as well as being self employed in construction throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s building houses in the Grace Village area.

He was the Grace Village Superintendent of construction from 1974-1978. Max served in many capacities throughout his lifetime in service, as a minister for the Grace Brethren Church, and he was proud that he helped oversee the construction of Grace Village Retirement Community and various buildings for Grace College.  He built a woodshop in 1992 building clocks, cedar chests, hutches, windmills, lighthouses, shelves and coat racks.  But most of all he served the Lord, and was a member of Lakeland Conservative Grace Brethren Church of Warsaw, Indiana.

He was born on April 27, 1924, in Tatesville, Pa., to John C. Fluke and Sara E. (Brallier) Fluke. On April 15, 1943, he was married to Mary Ellen (Zimmerman) Fluke who survives in Winona Lake.

He is survived by his four daughters: Carola Jean (Gary) Austin, Warsaw, Ind.; Jo Ann (Richard) Rosbrugh, Claypool, Ind.; Donna (David) Duffield, Oconomowoc, Wisc.; Doris (Steven) Swing, Lewis Center, Ohio; two sons: Donald (Cindi) Fluke, Winona Lake; Daniel (Robin) Fluke, Warsaw; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and his brother: W. Thorne Fluke, Williamsport, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 12, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Rd., Warsaw. A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Lakeland Conservative Grace Brethren Church, 2538 S. County Farm Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Pastor Russ Simpson. A private family graveside service with military rites will be conducted at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kim and Jared Meidal (granddaughter  of Max serving as missionaries at The Oaks Camp with World Impact); c/o Kim and Jared Meidal, P.O. Box 437, Lake Hughes, CA 93532.

Online condolences may be sent through the Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home website.