Even when diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Mr Flagg did not let his health get in the way of humour or personality.

Mr Flagg sadly died on Tuesday at Wendy Hucker Nursing Home, aged 70.

He was diagnosed with MND in 2011.

Mr Flagg will be remembered by wife Margaret and children and children-inlaw Michael and Kerrie, Rodney, Terry (dec'd), Jason and Manda, Aaron and Hope, Shaun and Katrina, Derek and Laurine, Angelique and Rob Coelho and Monique as well as his grandchildren.

His carer of two years, Samantha Nugent, described Mr Flagg as a wonderful man, committed to his family until the end.

"He was a very strong person and he was always making a joke," Ms Nugent said.

Ms Nugent and co-carer Lucy Godbier took the popular MND fund-raiser the ice bucket challenge to another level in September.

They each endured a 10-minute ice bath before taking part in other challenges, including a charity skydiving night and a 72-hour relay walk.

"He told us, if he could walk he wouldn't let us do it," Ms Nugent said.

The carers saw Mr Flagg's condition deteriorate over the two years they cared for him.

Ms Nugent said it was incredibly difficult to watch an "amazing man like John" suffer.

"Even on his bad day he would stay positive," she said, adding he was "always messing around".

"I'll remember how much he loved his family."

A mass celebrating Mr Flagg's life will be held at St Brendan's Catholic Church in Ganmain on Monday at 11am.