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Services set for Fleming family whose plane went missing over Lake Erie
By JUSTIN WIER
Funeral arrangements have been made for John and Suzanne Fleming and their sons, even as searchers continue looking for their remains and the plane they were aboard when it went missing Dec. 29 over Lake Erie.
A statement released Thursday by the Fleming and Armeni families thanks friends and family for their concern.
“The families are touched by the tremendous outpouring of support and continue to be grateful to all the agencies and individuals who have aided in the search and recovery efforts, now in the capable hands of the City of Cleveland,” the statement reads. “They extend their deep appreciation for the concern, kindness, and privacy shown by so many during this most difficult time.”
The statement lists calling hours from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday and a memorial service at 11 a.m. the following morning in Canfield Presbyterian Church. There also will be a memorial service at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Liberty Presbyterian Church in Delaware, Ohio.
The statement celebrates John’s 30-year career with Superior Beverage, Suzanne’s dedication to type I diabetes research, their son Jack’s love of sports and their son Andrew’s sense of humor.
John and Suzanne were on the Cessna 525 Citation with their two teenage sons and two family friends. The group was traveling from Cleveland to Columbus when the plane quickly lost altitude and went missing from radar over Lake Erie. They had attended a Cleveland Cavaliers game and were returning to their Columbus-area homes.
John, who piloted the plane, was president and CEO of Superior Beverage, a Columbus-based company that originated in Youngstown. John and Suzanne were 1989 Boardman High School graduates.
Search and rescue efforts have been underway since the plane went missing. On Sunday, a bag belonging to John Fleming was found in Lake Erie near Cleveland. Crews also recovered debris, which officials have not described because the investigation is ongoing.