Insurance agency owner Fluetsch dies at 79

Sept. 13--Peter Fluetsch, a longtime Merced insurance agency owner and civic leader, died Thursday from cardiac complications. He was 79.

His son, Doug Fluetsch, said his father had undergone carotid artery surgery a week prior and seemed to be recovering well at home. However, he was transferred back to Mercy Medical Center Thursday morning.

Fluetsch had built a name for himself in the Merced community while serving as president for the local and family-owned Fluetsch and Busby insurance agency for 20 years. Fluetsch was the third generation to run the century-old, personal, commercial and agricultural insurance company.

Fluetsch was born and raised in Merced. After graduating from Merced High School, he attended UC Berkeley for a semester with plans to study engineering. When that didn't work out, he returned home and started working in the family insurance business.

His grandfather and founder of the insurance agency, H.S. Shaffer, suggested that he study business at Menlo College. After college, Fleutsch volunteered to join the National Guard, serving in Monterey on the weekends for a year before concentrating full time in his career as an insurance agent.

Despite his business success, it was his civic involvement that made him well-known and respected around Merced, said Doug Fluetsch, who now runs the insurance agency with his sister, Jeannie Bliss.

Fluetsch dedicated more than 40 years to giving back to the community. He served for the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce and was the president of the Kiwanis Club in Merced.

He was a business mentor with SCORE, a program in which retired executives help advise small business owners. He was also deeply involved in fundraising for Boy Scouts of America and even received a national award from the organization.

"He lived by the Scout law," his son said. "He believed in being trustworthy, loyal, courteous and kind ... all of it."

One of Doug Fluetsch's favorite memories of his father is when he would dress up as Santa Claus and go to schools and housing facilities for the physically impaired to give out toys and sweets. "That was something that was so important to him. He didn't stop until 2007, when he had three heart attacks," Doug Fluetsch said.

Ralph Busby, Fluetsch's business partner and friend of more than 50 years, described him as a good businessman and loyal friend.

"He was a pleasant person, and he was easy to get along with. He had a lot of friends and a good sense of humor," Busby said. "He was a man who loved his family, and he loved his community ... he was always trying to make it better."

Fluetsch never retired. Although he was no longer head of the insurance agency, he would stop by the office daily.

Besides all the business guidance, Doug Fluetsch said some of the most important words of advice he received from his father were: "Remember who you are and what you represent."

Fluetsch's last words were to his high school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Catherine Fluetsch. "He told her he loved her and thanked her for all she did," his son said.

Fluetsch is survived by his wife, and five children: Kathleen Moore, John Fluetsch, Christine Frey, Jeannie Bliss and Doug Fluetsch.

Services will begin with a public funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and a reception at the church's hall.

A private burial will follow at Carter Cemetery in Tuolumne. Fluetsch and Busby Insurance will be closed on Tuesday in honor of Peter Fluetsch.

Sun-Star staff writer Ana B. Ibarra can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or aibarra@mercedsunstar.com.

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