Blaess, Richard Carl 1937 - 2015
BLAESS, BLOMGREN, THORSON, ELWOOD, MINCKS, SCHULTZ, KNOKE, FLORIAN, KERNS, HOVDEN, HINNEMAN, BIGLER, HOLTEN, MCCONNELL, TANGEN, FOLKEDAHL
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/11/2015 at 09:26:16
Richard “Dick” Blaess, age 78, of Burr Oak, IA, died on Saturday, September 5, 2015, at the Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse, WI.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 10, 2015, the Cresco Community Chapel, 24024 Highway #9 East, Cresco, IA, with Rev. Mike Simiele presiding. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, IA.
Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Thursday morning.
Richard Carl “Dick” Blaess was born on June 24, 1937, the son of Richard L. and Doris (Blomgren) Blaess in Decorah, IA. Dick attended Fremont #5 Country School near the St. Agnes-Plymouth Rock, west of Burr Oak. He graduated from Harmony High School, in Harmony, MN. He worked at Maynard Hovden’s Phillips 66 in Ridgeway, IA. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Thorson on January 9, 1960 at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church, and they were blessed with four children. Dick worked for Maritanau Motors in Waterloo, IA, for a few years. They returned to Burr Oak in 1963, where Dick opened Blaess Repair, which he operated for several years. In 1971, Dick went to work for the North Winneshiek School District as the Bus Superintendent and Bus Mechanic. He retired in 1999. Dick enjoyed stock car racing in his early years. He also was inventive and a thinker and liked tinkering and fixing cars and tractors; always paying close attention to details. He liked to go fishing, camping, hunting and just being outdoors. Dick was a devout Christian man who enjoyed reading the bible. He was a member of the Cresco Community Chapel, serving as an Elder and an Anawa Leader. Dick will be remembered for being a kind, patient and honest man. He also cherished the time that he spent with his family and grandchildren and will be missed dearly.
Dick is survived by his wife: Phyllis Blaess, Burr Oak, IA. Four children: Lori (Darrell) Elwood, Decorah, IA; Terri (Marlan) Mincks, Waukon, IA; Deborah “Debbie” (Mark) Schultz, Owensboro, KY; and Richard M. “Rich” (Lisa) Blaess, Decorah, IA. Eleven grandchildren: Darren, Renae and Darrek Elwood, Bryan (Angela) Mincks, Trevor Mincks, Heather and Garrett Schultz, Richard D. “Richie”, Matthew, Anna and Ryan Blaess. Dick’s siblings: Donna (friend, Lee Eberling) Knoke, Decorah, IA; Darold (Arlene) Blaess, Canton, MN; Jean (friend, Terry Shedd) Florian, Akron, CO; and George (Caraline) Blaess, St. Paris, OH. One brother-in-law: Lynn Kerns, New Hampton, IA. Two Aunts: Mabel Hovden, Tucson, AZ, and Liola (Bob) Hinneman, Evansdale, IA. Phyllis’ siblings: Evelyn (Roger) Bigler, Decorah, IA; Janice (Howard) Holten, Cedar Rapids, IA; Nathan (Sandra) Thorson, Cresco, IA; Arthur (Linda) Thorson, Plover, WI; Katherine Thorson, Ridgeway, IA; Elton (Vicki) Thorson, Decorah, IA and Cheryl (Steven) McConnell, Decorah, IA, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents: Richard L. and Doris (Blomgren) Blaess. One sister: Pauline Kerns on June 22, 2005. One nephew: Israel Blaess, Gary Tangen and Rodney Bigler. Three brothers-in-law: Lyle Knoke in 2003; Gilman Tangen in 1986; and Paul Florian in 2004. His father-in-law and mother-in-law: Ernest and Thelma (Folkedahl) Thorson. One brother-in-law: Donald Blaess.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
Burr Oak Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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