Donald Frederick Flusche, Sr. passed away on August 9, 2008, after a year-long battle with cancer. He met his death bravely, and was well prepared. He was born February 21, 1928, in Gainesville, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jonnie, two sons, Karl J. Flusche and wife Cindy of Plano, Michael E. Flusche and wife Grace of Dallas, daughter-in-law LaNelle Flusche of Mesquite, six Grandchildren: Lt. Donald F. Flusche, III, USCG, and wife Christy, D'Andra Flusche, Lorrie Lane and husband Brad, Karl J. Flusche Jr, and wife Sommer, Stefanie Flusche, and Michael Flusche Jr., and five Great- grandchildren: Christopher Lane, Matthew Flusche, Alyssa Lane, David Flusche, and Zackery Flusche. Also survived by several sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceded in death by his parents, Max P. and Beulah Flusche, his three brothers, Max P. Flusche, Jr, Harold W. Flusche, and Eugene T. Flusche, and his son, Donald F. Flusche, Jr., a Dallas Police Sergeant, whose death in the line of duty in 2001 he called the Great Tragedy. He attended St. Mary's school in Gainesville, and then when his family moved to Dallas, he attended the newly opened Jesuit High School and graduated in 1945, in the first graduating class of the school. In February 1946, he joined the US Army Air Corps and served three years, earning the rank of Sergeant. After leaving the service in 1949, he worked at Chance Vought Aircraft, as an aircraft electrician. In 1954, he joined the Dallas Police Department, was promoted to Sergeant in 1961, and served a distinguished 32 year career, receiving many awards and honors, including being awarded the Police Department's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for rescuing the life of a ten-year old girl from a fiery death in April 1963. In 1977 he and Captain Pat Patterson developed a Police Officer Survival program for the Dallas Police Department, that was so successful in helping save officer's lives that it is still taught today to all new Dallas officers, and has been taught across the country to other police departments as well. He was also instrumental in establishing the Dallas Police Officers Memorial, completed in 2001. He was one of the original members of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Dallas, and remained a member until his death. He was very active in the Men's Club and with the Boys Scouts at the church with his sons. He was also a member of and very active in the Knights of Columbus Council #799, as a 4th Degree Knight in the Abram J. Ryan Assembly, #1087, and a member of the American Legion. He was a member of the Dallas Police Association from it's founding, the Dallas Police and Fire Retiree's Association, and also of an informal group of retired Dallas Police Officers that met once every month for lunch and conversation. The Funeral Mass will be at 11 am on August 13, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3030 Gus Thomasson Rd, Dallas, Texas. Rev. Msgr. Lawrence Pichard, Celebrant and Father Robert Crisp, Con-Celebrant. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Rowlett. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Trey, Karl, and Michael Flusche, and Dallas Police Officers Deputy Chief Brian Harvey, Sgt Rector McCollum, Sr Corporal Jesse Lucio, and Sr. Corporal Gerald Melgoza. Honorary Pallbearers are all Dallas Police officers & retirees. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Dallas Police Assist the Officer Fund or the Dallas Police Memorial Fund.