Developing Story

The father of U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann died Saturday morning of cancer at age 87.

Max Fleischmann was a hard worker who raised his only son alone after his wife died of breast cancer, his son said Saturday. The younger Fleischmann said his father had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer about three months ago.

"My father really faced a tremendous amount of adversity in his life, but he had a wonderful life, he was an excellent father and grandfather. ... He loved his three grandchildren.

"He always worked very hard and he insisted I get an education. He never made much money, but I can remember when I was a kid he put $20 a week away in a college account for me. ... I'm glad he got to live to see me get elected to Congress."

Fleischmann said losing both parents to cancer makes the battle against the deadly disease important to him. He said he will serve on a bipartisan congressional panel looking at spending on cancer research.

Obituary information and funeral arrangements are in Sunday's Times Free Press.