Alvera A. "Vera" (Burlage) Blaser 1917-2008

BLASER, SCHLICTE, BURLAGE, SMOTHERS, ROTH, NICHOLES

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 10/15/2015 at 13:23:28

November 12, 2008, Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Alvera A. "Vera" Blaser, 91, of Dubuque Nursing and Rehab Center, formerly of Dubuque Retirement Center, the Alverno Apartments and 1203 Lincoln Ave., died at 4:07 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, at Dubuque Nursing and Rehab Center.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Dubuque. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Boniface Cemetery, New Vienna, Iowa. Friends may call from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where there will be a parish wake service at 6:30 p.m.

She was born on March 29, 1917, in New Vienna, daughter of Aloysius and Cecilia (Schlicte) Burlage. She married Vernon J. Blaser on Aug. 27, 1949, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dubuque; he preceded her in death on Nov. 8, 1985.

Vera worked at the Savanna (Ill.) Army Depot for 18 months at the start of World War II and then worked at the former Dubuque Packing Co. for eight years until 1949. She worked as part of the lunch crew at Bishop's Buffet from 1970 until her retirement in 1986.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters of America, the Rosary Society and the Senior Citizens Club at Holy Trinity and Sacred Heart. Vera was a foster parent for many years.

She enjoyed traveling, gardening, ladies card clubs and especially her grandchildren.

Surviving are a son, Richard J. (Susan) Blaser, of Dubuque; a daughter, Dianne M. Blaser, of Dubuque; three grandchildren, Rick (Dawn) Blaser, John Blaser and Kayla Blaser, all of Dubuque; two stepgrandchildren, Mike Smothers, of Maricopa, Ariz., and Lance Smothers, of Dubuque; two great-granddaughters, Kaitlyn Blaser and Madison Smothers, both of Dubuque; two sisters, Alberta Roth, of Dubuque, and Rita (Bob) Nicholes, of Virginia; two brothers, Laverne Charles "Bud" (Carol) Burlage and Paul (Peggy) Burlage, both of Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Donald, Gerald and Edwin; a sister, Doris; a brother-in-law, Art Roth; and many friends.