James "Dick" Russell Blodgett

BLODGETT, COX, MILLER, WHEELER, WHITE, JOHNSON, LESIAK, BURRESS, HARTSOCK, DICKESS, SANDOVAL, MILLS, MORGAN, WILLIAMS, VAN AUKEN, KREBS

Posted By: Judy Kelley (volunteer) (email)
Date: 5/31/2009 at 20:26:38

Columbus Gazette, Sept. 10, 2003

James "Dick" Russell Blodgett, 68, of Columbus Junction, died Saturday, September 6, 2003 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at the Stacy-Lewis Funeral Home in Columbus Junction, Wednesday, September 10 at 10:30 A.M. Rev. Donald Bundy will officiate. A memorial has been established in his name. Burial will be in the Columbus City Cemetery.

Dick was born April 4 1935 in Wapello, Iowa to James O. and Allice L (Cox) Blodgett. He was united in marriage to Carol June Miller on April 5, 1952. He later married Rebecca Wheeler on July 1, 1989 at the Pleasant Grove Community Church in Columbus Junction.

Dick was employed at the Rath Meat Packing Company for over 21 years in Columbus Junction. He was the mayor of Fredonia since 1998. Dick also worked at Colonial Manor and retired from Wal-mart after ten years of service. He also farmed for many yars. Dick was a two term past president of the Columbus Junction Lion's Club. He enjoyed square dancing, working with wood, deer hunting and loved his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Blodgett of Columbus Junction, one son, Bruce and his wife, Lynn Blodgett of Columbus Junction; eight daughters, Bonnie White and her husband, Gary of Ainsworth, Jayne Johnson and her husband, Marty of Wapello, Judy Lesiak of Kansas City, Loretta Burress and her husband, Lee of Columbus Junction, Ladonna Hartsock of Wapello, Melissa Dickess and herhusband, Jim of Tiffin, April Sandoval and her husband, Jose of Muscatine, and Heather Mills and her husband, Nathaniel of Musctine; three sisters, Mary Morgan of Morning Sun, Iowa, Twyla and James Williams of Cedar Rapids, Betty and Jim Van Auken of Columbus Junction; two sisters-in-law, Catherine Blodgett of Central City, NE; and Delores Blodgett of Silvis, Il; twenty-six grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; one expecting grandchild and one expecting great-grandchild.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers; Charles, Keith and Phillip; one sister, Doris Krebs; and two grandcildren, Lawrence Sly and Louis Sattler Jr.