This bio came from Minerd.com and the family of Ulysses 'Grant' Rose (1865-1936). This appears to be the same James Fligger although Kathleen Winslow is not mentioned. Sylvia Lindke's fatal news report mentions 4 step-grandchildren which James had from his first marriage, and his two other ex-wives check out. Certain details match such as James was from Pennsylvania with a daughter, and mother-in-law. Kathleen didn't stay married to James for long, he married Joanne Jex afterward, nor did she seem to have children with him. Without his obituary or other proof, it's not certain this was him. However, it looks pretty certain since there weren't many other Fliggers around.

James Walter Fligger (1930-2003) was born on or about May 11, 1930 in Hunker, PA. Evidence suggests that he was married twice. His first bride was Naomi C. Gross ( ? -1999) of Westmoreland County. They became the parents of Kathleen A. Pratz, Samuel Fligger and James W. Fligger Jr. At some point they relocated to Lockport, NY. There, he was employed by the Highway and Parks Department of the City of Lockport, said the Lockport (NY) Union Sun & Journal. Naomi made a living as a cook at Travelers Motor Inn and through her work for Lockport Canning Company. The couple eventually divorced. Naomi moved to Newfane, NY and wed Roger A. Bowler ( ? - ? ). James' second wife was Joanne F. (Jex) Murphy (Feb. 17, 1941-2021), daughter of Nelson and Loraine (Wilcos) Jex of Lockport. Joanne also appears to have been married previously and to have brought these seven children into the marriage with James -- Patrick Murphy, Marian Sharpe, Robert Murphy, Deborah Dolinski, Tammy Wallace, Sheryl Money and Raymond Murphy. Sadly, James died on May 14, 2003. Joanna survived as a widow for another 18 years. She succumbed to the spectre of death on Feb. 1, 2021. Former wife Naomi died in Newfane Inter-Community Memorial Hospital at age 67 on June 16, 1999, with an obituary appearing in the Buffalo News. Her remains were transported back to Westmoreland County for interment.

Daughter Kathleen A. Fligger (1951-2020) was born on Aug. 28, 1951 in Greensburg, PA. She relocated with her parents to Lockport, NY. She was united in matrimony with Robert E. Pratz ( ? - ? ). Their union endured the ups and downs of 47 years. Four children born to the pair were Tina Clark, Christina Pratz, Robert J. Pratz and Heidi Pratz. Kathleen earned a living over the years as a certified nursing assistant with Newfane Rehabilitation Center. In her free time she enjoyed watching John Wayne films and collecting Betty Boop memorabilia.  Sadness cascaded over the family when, at age 69, Kathleen died in St. Mary's Hospital on May 1, 2020. Her obituary was published in the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal.

Granddaughter Tina Pratz married Ronald Clark.

Granddaughter Christina Pratz was a companion of Keith Redding.

Grandson Robert J. Pratz kept company with Kathleen Dubois.

Granddaughter Heidi Pratz was a companion of William Owen.

Son Samuel Fligger wed Denise. He may be the same man who has been employed in Amherst, NY by Premier Wine and Spirits. 

note- The man who worked at Premier Wine and Spirits (see below) would have been Samuel Fligger Jr. who was born about 1980. Samuel Fligger Sr. was born about 1952.

Son James W. Fligger Jr. ( ? - ? ) dwelled in Lockport and then in Niagara Falls' Midtown Inn. He is a registered sex offender and was sent to state prison in 2010 after failing to provide police with a new address which was within 1,500 feet of an elementary school.

*** New York State Police arrest two following underage drinking enforcement detail in Erie County- Posted 1:49 PM, Mar 12, 2021 and last updated 1:49 PM, Mar 12, 2021 - CLARENCE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Two people have been arrested by New York State Police troopers out of Clarence for allegedly selling alcohol to people under 21, during an underage drinking enforcement detail in Amherst, Cheektowaga, Clarence, and Depew. State Police say 40-year-old Samuel Fligger of Lockport who works at Premier Wine & Spirits located at 7980 Transit Road in Amherst, and 60-year-old Glenn Herrnreiter of Bowmansville who works at the Village Liquor Store located at 6346 Transit Road in Depew, allegedly sold alcohol to people under age 21. Fligger will appear in Town of Amherst Court at a later date, and Herrnreiter will appear in Village of Depew Court at a later date.

*** THE BUFFALO NEWS - Sex offender gets prison term for failing to register address - By DAVID ROBINSON AND THOMAS J. PROHASKA Jan 9, 2010 - A local sex offender, who reportedly lived in an abandoned building after being evicted from Niagara Falls' Midtown Inn, was sent to state prison Friday for failing to register his address with police. James W. Fligger Jr., 47, a former Lockport resident, was sentenced to one to three years in prison by State Supreme Court Justice Richard C. Kloch Sr. Kloch said he gave Fligger a break after listening to his story and his complaints about how he was flagged for a probation violation in April. The judge said he had entered the courtroom intending to send Fligger to prison for 1 1/3 to four years. Fligger was among 16 sex offenders kicked out of the Midtown Inn in July and August after The Buffalo News reported that the Niagara Street apartment house was within 1,500 feet of an elementary school, thus violating a city buffer zone ordinance. The building had been used by state parole officers to house many sex offenders. The Niagara County Social Services Department also was using it to place homeless welfare recipients. Fligger has a history of failing to register his address. He pleaded guilty to a felony for that in February 2008, and Kloch placed him on probation. Fligger pleaded guilty to another felony count of failing to register in November, in the wake of the Midtown Inn eviction. Assistant Public Defender Michael E. Benedict said Fligger "chose the route of moving into an abandoned building and was unable to give the address." Fligger argued Friday that the city law shouldn't override the state's 1,000-foot buffer zone requirement between schools and sex offenders' homes. But Kloch said the buffer zone wasn't the only reason Fligger was charged with violating probation. The main one was that Fligger was spotted by a parole officer April 9 at a neighborhood food giveaway at 19th Street and Walnut Avenue, where many children were present. Fligger said he simply took a number and was waiting in line for the free food. "I didn't linger there," he said. "I don't believe I deserve a prison sentence." But Kloch said he sent another sex offender, Michael C. Motzer of Lyndonville, to a state mental institution after he was seen at the giveaway. Motzer was subject to the state's civil confinement law but was on a strict parole regimen at the time. Fligger is not involved in that program. Fligger is rated a Level 2 sex offender for molesting a 6-year-old girl Oct. 25, 1994, in Lockport. He served five years in prison for that.

✞James W. Fligger Jr., of Niagara Falls entered into rest on Sunday July 21st, 2024 at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. Born in Lockport, NY on April 18th, 1962 to the late James W. Fligger Sr. and the late Nami [sic] Gross. James is predeceased by his oldest sister Kathleen " Bunny" Pratt [sic], he is survived by 3 siblings, Samuel (Denise) Fligger, Sandra (Late David) Baker and Jock Bowler (Lisa Roberts), also surviving is a his brother in law Robert Pratt [sic], several nieces and nephews and close friends Josh Heacox and Thomas Chew. No services will be held at this time.

✞Kathleen A. Pratz passed away May 1, 2020 in St. Mary’s Hospital. Born August 28, 1951, Greenburg, PA, daughter of the late James Fligger W. Sr, and the late Naomi C. (Gross) Baker. Kathleen retired as a CNA from Newfane Rehabilitation Center. Kathleen loved John Wayne movies, Betty Boop memorabilia, but most of all, her family. Besides her husband of 47 years, Robert E. Pratz, she is survived by four culdren: Tina (Ron) Clark; Christina (Keith Redding) Pratz; Robert J. (Kathleen Dubois) Pratz; and Heidi (William Owen) Pratz, brothers, Samuel (Denise) Fligger; James W. Fligger, Jr, and Jock R. Bowler, and sisters, Jamye Fligger and Sandra (David) Baker, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.