P.J. “Joe” Fleming, 64, Seneca, KS, died Thursday afternoon, July 1, 2004, shortly after arrival at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

He was born April 26, 1940, at Garden Grove, CA, the son of Percy J. Fleming II and Christine Chafin Fleming. He attended Garden Grove Schools and graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1958. He lived in Riverside, CA, where he broke horses. He served two years with the Los Angeles Police Department. He started employment with the Sante Fe Railroad in Los Angeles in communications. He helped build one of their first microwave towers and traveled the country 27 years for the railroad. In 1988 he retired from the railroad and moved to Pawnee City, NE. He purchased Performance Tire in Seneca, which he operated for three years before he sold it. As a hobby, he became a bounty hunter and again traveled. He owned 14 Harleys during his travels. His last career was co-owner of the Ft. Markley Café where he served as chef.

On October 12, 1994, he married Mary Jane Markley. She survives of the home.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Church at St. Benedict, the Seneca Chamber of Commerce, the Pony Express Preservation Society, where he was a board member, the Sante Fe Railroad Union, and the Bear Creek Motorcycle Club at Pawnee City.

Survivors besides his wife, Mary Jane, are two sons, Joe Fleming, Seattle, WA and P.J. “Pat” Fleming IV, Albuquerque, NM; a daughter, Jennifer Russell, Grants Pass, OR; three sisters, Deborah Klein and Roberta Dormer, both of Pawnee City NE and Mary Kulp, DuBois, NE; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Lyle Beyreis on December 1, 1987.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in DuBois Cemetery, DuBois, NE. The rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.