Arlyne R. Fleissner

Arlyne Rose (Rappl) Fleissner – cherished mother of five, grandmother of nine, and great grandmother of seven – passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025 at the age of 93. Arlyne was born in Milwaukee on April 11, 1932, the first child of Rose and Frank Rappl, and had a happy childhood living in a classic Milwaukee duplex on 34th Street in St. Anne’s parish. After attending Mercy High School for girls, she worked in a canning factory to put herself through college at Marquette University, where she studied education. Arlyne flirted with Ronald Fleissner at Marquette student orientation and in Spanish class freshman year, and, after graduation, the two went on to marry and raise a large, happy family of four sons (Richard, Michael, William, and Thomas) and one daughter (Ann). Arlyne had a long career as a grade school teacher and continued substitute teaching into her 70s. She thrived in the classroom and was devoted to her students. Through her own example, Arlyne taught her children and grandchildren the value of paying close attention to, and being curious about, the world around them. Her family learned the names of countless wild birds, flowers, and plants from her and has shared that knowledge with their own loved ones. Arlyne taught her children the importance and simple joy of caring for what is yours – family members, friends, animals, and even possessions. While she held her children close, she also raised them to be independent and to follow their dreams, wherever they took them. Arlyne loved being a mother and grandmother and, even though the work of feeding, clothing, and supporting her big family was often quite substantial, she found joy in the labor and always greeted her family members with a big smile and a long hug. Arlyne’s family remembers her as a creative and skilled cook who was frequently trying out a new recipe. Ever ready for a quick waltz in the kitchen with her beloved Ron, Arlyne was always singing and had a natural ear to improvise a delightful harmony. She is responsible for having taught her children and grandchildren countless songs, which they will never forget. A long-term member of Mother of Good Counsel parish, Arlyne sang alto in the church choir for several decades and has inspired musicality in her children. Arlyne loved riding on the back of motorcycles, taking long swims in Found Lake, and watching the sunrise from a mountaintop. . Arlyne was preceded in death by Ronald Fleissner, her beloved husband of 66 years, her mother Rose Rappl, and father Frank Rappl. She is survived by her brother, Richard Rappl (Marlene), her five children—Richard (Christine), Michael (Cyndy), William (Sheri), Thomas (Linda), and Ann (Robert Del Principe)—her nine grandchildren (Stephanie, Joseph, Benjamin, David, Katherine, Elizabeth, Gregory, Zola, and Clio), and seven great grandchildren (Mason, Owen, Henry, Avery, Bennett, Charlotte, and Dawson). Visitation Friday, June 13, 2025 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL CHURCH (6924 W. Lisbon Av, Milwaukee 53210) followed by the Celebration of Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM. Interment will be held at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date.