Austin Anthony Flach (15) of Effingham

Austin Anthony Flach, 15, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Monday, January 23, 2017 at his home.

A funeral mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 28, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Fourth Street, Effingham. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Austin to St. Anthony Schools or charity of donor’s choice.

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Austin was born on September 27, 2001, in Effingham, IL, the son of Anthony and Sandra (Niebrugge) Flach.

Austin was a freshman at St. Anthony High School in Effingham and a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church. Austin was full of life with the most amazing heart. He was extremely intelligent and was constantly dreaming of his future. With heart disease in the family, he was determined to become a heart surgeon. Whether working his summer job or doing chores for neighbors and grandparents, Austin could always be depended on. He loved his family beyond words. He and his brother Will were an inseparable pair. They loved playing basketball together, fishing, swimming, playing video games and just hanging out. Austin loved basketball and his St Anthony basketball team. His love for music continued to grow – singing, learning guitar and most recently wanting to start piano. With a newly earned learner’s permit, he drove every chance he could. His love for family was unmatched. Some of his closest friends were his older cousins while his younger cousins had him wrapped around their fingers. As many have simply put to us, he was such a fine young man. You never saw him without a smile on his face and that smile will never be forgotten. He will be deeply missed but greatly remembered. We will love you always and forever.   

Austin is survived by his parents, Anthony “Tony” and Sandra “Sandy” Flach of Effingham; brother, William “Will” Flach of Effingham; paternal grandparents, Mark and Karen S. Flach of Effingham; maternal grandparents, Anthony “Tony” and Barbara Niebrugge of Effingham; paternal great-grandfathers, Richard A. Flach and Jacob “Jack” Klay both of Effingham; uncles, Brian Flach (Bethanie), Kevin Flach (Mandy), Ken Niebrugge (Diana), Tony Niebrugge, Nick Niebrugge (Amber)  all of Effingham and Doug Niebrugge (Kay) of Crestwood, KY; aunts, Angie Thies (Kenny) and Jane Wagner (Graham) both of Effingham and Monica Tucker (Jason) of Oxford, IN; and 17 cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandmothers, Anna Marie Flach and Joan Klay; maternal great-grandparents, Anthony and Anna Niebrugge and Leo and Irene Singler; and uncle, Brian Niebrugge.