Kent Jay Flemmer

life story

“I’ll see you in Heaven…I’ll be the one in the cowboy hat.” - Kent J Flemmer

About Kent

It is not often that our life journeys are blessed with knowing the very best of who God made; with the kindest and most gentle spirit, the rarest and most tender soul, and a heart that emanates unconditional and absolute love. One who has an inner strength that, while quiet and humble, meets life’s most difficult journeys with great dignity and grace. One so rooted in your heart and soul, that your life is forever changed. So it has been to be blessed with the life, talents, integrity and love of Kent Jay Flemmer, our most beloved life partner; father; brother; uncle; great uncle; nephew; cousin; and friend.

Kent was born in Bismarck, North Dakota to Violet and Walter Flemmer on November 17, 1957. As the youngest of five children and only son, there was never a question that he would be special. Even as a young boy, he loved adventure. Seeking rain puddles in which to push his sisters. Fishing on the Missouri River, on Lake Sakakawea, and at Snake Creek. Sleeping seven across under an old canvas tent, with underbrush for padding and mice for night-time visitors. Eating hobo dinners around the campfire. Romping around Wind Canyon in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Camping, canoeing, and working on countless Boy Scout merit badges and earning his Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. Dodging tree limbs, rocks, and sandbars as he learned to ski behind the family’s Glastron boat, “Stormy” on the Missouri River. Trying on a cowboy hat just for kicks and deciding it - and a dozen more - would need to become life-time additions to his wardrobe. No cowboy ever looked more handsome than he.

After graduating from Bismarck High School in 1975, Kent moved to Minneapolis where he studied photography and eventually started his own business. Kent learned from, worked with, and became life-long friends with several fellow photographers as well as clients. His work will forever be a testament to his skills and incredible gifts as a photographer. He loved meeting new and unique people and had a way of making them feel comfortable. His amazing ability to capture fleeting and spontaneous moments or show landscapes in their most real and passionate stances, artfully told the stories of people’s lives and one-of-a-kind places through his photographs.

Kent married Stacey Field on Nov 16th 1996, and they lovingly brought their daughter, Ivy, into the world on November 6th, 1997. Ivy was Kent’s heart, and they will forever be united as father and daughter. Together, they took many camping trips to Medora, ND and Medicine Rock, MT. They also shared great family times at the Flemmer Cabin on Webb Lake, where they loved to swim, tube, water ski, and fish in his boat, “Little Red”. He was always proud of the young woman Ivy became and was thrilled to watch her graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art at Macalester College, St. Paul in Spring 2021. Stacey and Kent remained life-long friends and did a beautiful job of co-parenting Ivy after separating.

One restless evening, Kent was enjoying the music and character-filled atmosphere of Nye’s Polonaise Room in Northeast Minneapolis. There was a woman there that “danced into his life” to the sound of polka music and laughter. As fate would have it, she happened to like cowboy hats, too. Erin McCawley entered Kent’s life, and the love they share remains profoundly deep and profoundly life-altering - not just to the two of them - but to all who know them. Soulmates that found each other and fit together like a handsome cowboy and his hat.

Erin and Kent had many wonderful adventures together including traveling the country in their beloved campervan, “Wendell” and taking naps in their restored camper-turned-guesthouse, “Ruthie”. They especially loved the Southwest and Western parts of the country, waving at the cows, stopping in out-of-the-way places, and watching spectacular sunsets. Erin’s musical career also kept them busy attending shows, festivals, and competitions. They also developed strong family-like friendships throughout the music community. Kent loved watching Erin perform, but among the highlights was when Erin wrote and performed “You Deserve a Thousand Love Songs” for his birthday in 2020.

Kent’s “Remembrance of Life” will be held on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. at Manitou Grill and Event Center, 2171 4th St White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Kent is survived by his beloved life partner and soulmate, Erin McCawley; his daughter Ivy and her mother, Stacey; his sisters Karen Clibourn (Doug); Karla Becker; Kathy Adams (Richard); loving nieces and nephews along with hundreds of dear friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Violet Whalen and Walt Flemmer; his sister Kristie Jennings and her husband, Ken Jennings; and his brother-in-law, Greg Becker.

A special thank you to Kent’s amazing sisters: Karen, Karla, and Kathy for the countless hours and the many, many selfless ways you cared for and about Kent. He often said, “Thank God for my sisters, huh? I don’t know what we’d do without ‘em!” And thank you to all the friends and family whose love uplifted Kent and Erin, helping them carry the burdens of this journey and giving them the assurance that they were never traveling this path alone.

memorial service

Remembrance of Life for Kent J. Flemmer

November 14, 2021

Manitou Grill & Event Center 2171 4th St, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services