James T. BLAIN

BLAIN, OPPEDAL, MILES, HEMMINGSEN, LARSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/10/2010 at 11:55:16

March 31, 1949 -- October 8, 2004

James T. "Jim" Blain, 55, of Canon City, CO, died Friday, October 8, 2004. A memorial service was held at 4 p.m., Thursday, October 14 at Canon City High School Auditorium with Pastor Chuck Kinyon officiating and a reception followed at the family home. Visitation was held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday at Holt Family Funeral Home in Canon City.

Jim was born March 31, 1949 to Lester and Thelma (Oppedal) Blain in Algona, IA. He grew up on a farm in Wesley, IA and graduated from the Titonka High School in 1967, with the distinction of membership in the National Honor Society. Jim received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Iowa State in 1971, and then began a teaching career with the Corwith-Wesley Consolidated School District. His career in teaching spanned 17 years and he taught Biology, Organic Chemistry, 8th grade Math, and, being one of few with Physics certification in the state of Iowa, also taught Physics.

Jim married Eileen Miles, a fellow teacher, on April 3, 1976 in St. James. In 1978, the couple began The Greenery Floral Shop in Corwith, IA and operated the business until they moved to Canon City in 1988 when they purchased Canon Floral. Jim was a man of many interests and talents. He enjoyed growing things, enjoyed building things with wood, and was a natural at understanding and working with new technology. His interests varied from the mechanics of trains to rodeo and stock shows, but his greatest interest and passion was for public education and community.

In Iowa, Jim went the extra mile in his community by serving on the Volunteer Fire Department, mowing grass and watering trees in the city's cemetery and park, driving the school route bus morning and night, taking the girl's basketball team to away games, and acting as scorekeeper for the high school's basketball games. In Canon City he continued the tradition of passion for education and his community. Jim served twice on the Board of the Canon City Chamber of Commerce, served on the School District Improvement Committee, and the High School Business Educational Alliance, and at the time of his death was serving a second term on the Canon City School Board. He was also District Chair of the FTD Association District 8H for many years.

Jim is survived by his wife, Eileen of Canon City; daughter, Anne of Canon City; mother, Thelma Blain of Wesley, IA; mother-in-law, LaDonna Miles of St. James; brother, Jerry (Pam) Blain of Wesley, IA; sister-in-law, Kathleen (Denny) Hemmingsen and family of Scottsdale, AZ; brother-in-law, Mark Miles and his daughter of Ormsby; aunt, Julia Larsen of Clear Lake, IA; and nephew, Jeb Blain of Wesley, IA. Jim was preceded in death by his father in 1993; father-in-law, Harold Miles; one uncle; one aunt; and one cousin.