Vriezelaar, Blaine Gradus 1926-2024

VRIEZELAAR, HERWEHE, ZIMMERMAN, SHYKEN, ANKENY, MORTIMER, HARTHOORN, SHAEFFER, SCHMITT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/31/2024 at 19:46:49

Blaine Gradus Vriezelaar
April 21, 1926 - December 23, 2024

Blaine Gradus Vriezelaar was born on April 21,1926 to parents Gradus A and Nettie B (Herwehe) Vriezelaar, in the downstairs bedroom of the family farm in rural Marion County Iowa. He arrived before Dr. Carpenter made it to the delivery. He was the youngest of five children joining siblings Kathryn, James, Jean, and Korrine.

Blaine attended country schools until the age of 12 and then enrolled in Monroe Community School. Saving money was important to him starting at a young age, so much so that he was able to purchase his first car at age 14. The 1929 Model A Coupe was $40, and Blaine had a school permit so he could drive it into Monroe to school. Graduating at 17 years old during the height of WWII, he enlisted right away in the Army Air Corp but could not be on active duty until he turned 18. Blaine was a "radio man" serving three years at various bases around the United States. After discharge he enrolled at Iowa State University for two winter quarters in the Farm Operations program. He joined the Theta XI fraternity and was honored as a 75-year member in 2023. He was also honored as a 75-year member of the American Legion Fred Slayden Post 363 having joined immediately upon discharge.

Blaine was a life-long farmer, beginning as a boy on the family farm. His father used horses to pull the equipment. He would say that starting out the horses knew more than he did. He was active in 4H, raising Tamworth hogs and showing them at the Marion County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. He could make a little more money by showing a hog breed that wasn't well known. After many decades, Blaine fully retired from farming in 2006 at age 80.

Reading was a priority in his family growing up. An avid reader his entire life, he started with Boy's Life magazine. As an adult he read two daily newspapers, a host of magazines, and many farm publications. His favorite books were old westerns by authors Zane Gray and Louis L'Amour. In retirement Blaine enjoyed walking, playing Pitch, Cribbage, and Poker; and visiting with others. It also allowed Blaine and Kay to spend the winter months in Arizona where they made many good friends. While there, he would regularly play shuffleboard and Texas Hold'em. Returning to Iowa he could be found with the coffee group at Kane's Welding, later Kane Salvage. A 50-year member of the Monroe United Methodist church, he served on the Board of Trustees, attended the men's group, and assisted with the various church activities.

During the summer of 1954 he went on a blind date with Kay Ann Zimmerman to the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines. He liked her well enough to be married four months later. They lived in a few apartments around Monroe and the little house on Snowbird Road before building their family home on Draper Road in 1964. They had four children Stanley Gradus, Dean Keith, Thomas Alton, and Molly Kay. Blaine and Kay celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on October 30, 2024, at their winter home in Casa Grande Arizona.

Blaine passed away on December 23, 2024, in Arizona.

He is survived by his wife Kay and their children.

Stanley Gradus Vriezelaar and spouse Jaye Shyken

Noah Vriezelaar

Seth and Danielle Vriezelaar

Holly and Colette

Shaina Vriezelaar

Dean Keith Vriezelaar

Blaine Vriezelaar and spouse Ellie Ankeny

Fira and Remy

Brandon Vriezelaar

Bryan and Shannon Vriezelaar

Colby, Ian, Luella, and Toby

Thomas Alton Vriezelaar

Molly Kay Vriezelaar and David Mortimer

Kristopher Harthoorn and spouse Alexandra Shaeffer

Samuel and Hannah Harthoorn

Hannah Rose (Harthoorn) and Lukas Schmitt

Piper Mortimer

He is also survived by several nieces and nephews along with their children. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings plus their spouses.

Visitation with the family will be Friday January 3, 2025, from 4-6pm at the Monroe United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be at the church on Saturday January 4, 2025, at 10:30am with a private burial service following. After the burial, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Methodist Church, all are welcome to attend.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Monroe Fire Department (Please make checks payable to "Monroe Fire Department"). or the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity (Please make checks out to GDM Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 716, Des Moines, IA 50303, with "Jasper County Habitat for Humanity in the memo." Or go to, http://www.jaspercountyhabitat.org/donate to give online.) If you are unable to attend and wish to send a memorial, please make it out to, "Attn: Blaine Vriezelaar, Coburn Funeral Home, 24 W Howard St, Colfax, IA 50054."

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Blaine, please visit our floral store.
Events
Visitation
Friday, January 3, 2025
4:00PM - 6:00PM
Monroe United Methodist Church
407 N Monroe St
Monroe, IA 50170
Funeral Service
Saturday, January 4, 2025
10:30AM - 11:30AM
Monroe United Methodist Church
407 N Monroe St
Monroe, IA 50170
Guestbook Signing & Memory Sharing
Orders begin printing on January 10
Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book.

View Tribute Book
Tribute Wall ~ The Coburn Family Funeral Home, Monroe, Iowa 23 Dec 2024.