BLODGETT, James

BLODGETT, COX, MILLER, WHEELER

Posted By: Nancy (email)
Date: 9/26/2003 at 19:52:28

September 11, 2003 The Wapello Republican – accompanied by a photo. I am not related and have no further information.

James Blodgett

James “Dick” Russell Blodgett, 68, of Columbus Junction, died Saturday, September 6, 2003, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. He was born April 4, 1935 in Wapello to James O. and Allice L. Cox Blodgett. He married Carol June Miller on April 5, 1952. On July 1, 1989, he married Rebecca Wheeler at the Pleasant Grove Community Church in Columbus Junction.

He was employed for more than 21 years at the Rath Meat Packing Co. in Columbus Junction, farmed for many years, worked at Colonial Manor, and retired from Walmart after ten years of service.

He was a two-term past president of the Columbus Junction Lions Club, and had been mayor of Fredonia since 1998.

He enjoyed square dancing, working with wood, deer hunting and loved his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife Rebecca of Columbus Junction; one son Bruce and wife Lynn Blodgett of Columbus Junction; eight daughters, Bonnie White and husband Gary of Ainsworth, Jayne Johnson and husband Marty of Wapello, Judy Lesiak of Kansas City, Loretta Burress and husband Lee of Columbus Junction, Ladonna Hartsock of Wapello, Melissa Dickess and husband Jim of Tiffin, April Sandoval and husband Jose of Muscatine and Heather Mills and husband Nathaniel of Muscatine; three sisters Mary Morgan of Morning Sun, Twyla and James Williams of Cedar Rapids and Betty and Jim Van Auken of Columbus Junction; two sisters-in-law Catherine Blodgett of Central City, Nebraska, and Delores Blodgett of Silvis, Ill; 26 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one expected grandchild and one expected great-grandchild.

Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, Charles, Keith and Phillip; one sister, Doris Krebs; and two grandchildren, Lawrence Sly and Louis Sattler Jr.

Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Stacy-Lewis Funeral Home in Columbus Junction, with the Rev. Donald Bundy officiating. Burial was at the Columbus City Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Tom Blodgett, Ken Blodgett, Kirk Blodgett, Craig Blodgett, Pat Blodgett, Steve Blodgett and Thad Blodgett.

Honorary bearers were Josh Phillips, Russell Blodgett, Ronald Blodgett, Sean Burtlow, Tommy Staley, Cody Hartsock, John Burtlow Jr., James Dickess, Nathaniel Mills, Phil Nelson, Gary White, Jose Sandoval and Lee Burress.

Visitation was Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

A memorial has been established.