[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 105 (Friday, June 21, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E651-E652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING JOSEPH A. FLUEHR, III

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 21, 2024

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
exceptional constituent from my district, Joseph A. Fluehr, III, of 
Richboro who has been a dedicated citizen and caregiver to his 
community. Joe and his wife, Christine, opened the Joseph A. Fluehr III 
Funeral Home in Richboro, Pennsylvania in 1976, expanded to New 
Britain, Pennsylvania in 1997, and built Laurel Cremation Services in 
2010. For almost 50 years, Joe has lovingly attended to families 
grieving the loss of a loved one.
  Joe, the oldest of 8 children, was raised in the Oak Lane section of 
Philadelphia and eventually moved to Richboro when the construction of 
his funeral home was completed. He graduated from the College of West 
Virginia and continued to the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, 
where he received his Degree in Applied Sciences.

[[Page E652]]

  Joe's commitment to community service is exemplified through his 
extensive involvement in local organizations. St. Mary Medical Center 
called on Mr. Fluehr to sit on their Board of Trustees, which he did 
for over a decade and served as Chairman of the Board for an impressive 
nine years. Under his leadership, the once small, neighborhood hospital 
saw huge growth in the numbers of patients it served and medical 
professionals it employed. They exponentially expanded the footprint of 
the building, and it is now a Level II Trauma Center. Rotating off the 
Board of Trustees, Joe served as a member of the St. Mary's Medical 
Center Entities Board and continues to serve on the St. Mary's Medical 
Center Hospital Authority today.
  In addition to working with the hospital board, Joe served on the 
board of Prime Bank, a locally owned bank, for 13 years, where he also 
held the position of Corporate Secretary.
  As another testament to his dedication to the community of Richboro 
and Northampton Township, Joe was a volunteer with the Northampton 
Township Volunteer Fire Department and served on the Tri-Hampton Rescue 
Squad Advisory Board. He has been a member of Council Rock Kiwanis 
Invitational, where he participated in many service projects dedicated 
to making the lives of children better. He supported the Northampton 
Township Historical Society and has been a long-standing member of the 
Northampton Township Business and Professional Association. In 2015, 
honoring this integral member of the community, they bestowed upon Joe 
their ``Businessman of the Year Award''.
  Professionally, Joe has held significant roles within the funeral 
service industry, serving on the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral 
Directors and chairing the board for two years. He is affiliated with 
prestigious organizations such as the Cremation Association of North 
America and the National Funeral Directors Association.
  As a devout parishioner of St. Bede, the Venerable Church and a 4th 
Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, Joe embodies the values of 
faith, service, and community.
  Furthermore, Joe has dedicated his life to serving and honoring the 
veterans of our community. He played a pivotal role in supporting the 
Washington Crossing National Cemetery, advocating for its opening, and 
facilitating logistical and professional support for unclaimed 
veterans' services. Joe's contributions extend to providing urns and 
nameplates to the Bucks County Morgue for unclaimed veterans and 
donating to various veterans' monuments at Washington Crossing.
  Joe lives in Newtown with Christine, his wife of 55 years. They have 
three children and 6 dear grandchildren. In his free time, Joe enjoys a 
good glass of merlot, eating dinner with friends, and spending time 
with his family. He is proud of the family he raised with his wife, the 
relationships he fostered throughout his life, and the businesses he 
built that serve the community.
  I am eternally grateful to Joe Fluehr, III for the life of committed 
service he has given to our community, district, and country. Indeed, 
his care and concern for his fellow neighbors, his support for local 
organizations, and his commitment to our service men and women are but 
a few impressive attributes of a truly great man. I am happy to honor 
him today.

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