Blake Aaron LOBDELL

LOBDELL, NELSON, MILLER, SHOWALTER, PAULSEN, NICHOLSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/21/2011 at 20:17:49

July 19, 1961 --- September 18, 2011

CLEAR LAKE, IA — Blake Aaron Lobdell, 50, of 808 7th Ave. N., Clear Lake, died suddenly Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City. Blake was a caring and giving person; he continued that in death through the gift of organ/tissue donation. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Diana Hoover officiating. Graveside services will be at Belmond Cemetery, Belmond. Visitation will be Wednesday from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, and then one hour before the service at the church. Family suggests memorials to the Blake A. Lobdell memorial fund to establish a scholarship fund.

Blake was born July 19, 1961, in Belmond, the son of Jack and Shirley (Nelson) Lobdell. He graduated from Belmond High School in 1979. While in high school he participated in cross country and ran the mile in track where he won two conference championships. Throughout high school and college he worked at the P&G Grocery store, where he met his future wife. Blake and Jane were married July 27, 1985, in Belmond and just recently celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary. He started his teaching career in the winter of 1985 at the Klemme School and in 1986 started teaching at Clear Lake High School.

Mr. Lobdell’s students have all heard the expressions to “Pull yourself up by the bootstraps” or “Such is life.” Although these “Mr. Lobdellisms” might have been heard with a critical ear, the sincerity behind them was well-founded. Early in Blake’s life, the accidental passing of his father brought hardship to a young family, prompting a high school science instructor, Mr. Wilson, to mentor young Lobdell and guide him to pursue a college education. With this encouragement, Blake literally worked his own way through Central College, graduating with a degree in science education. While teaching at Klemme High School, Dwight Williamson, a friend of many students at Clear Lake, encouraged Blake to apply and accept the physics position at Clear Lake High School, where he has been employed the past 25 years.

The process of education was lucid to Mr. Lobdell. He clearly knew the value of teaching for the full period, that time on task was essential and that students being responsible for their education was paramount. Whether it was his students receiving graduate degrees in science or others entering the work force, the value of Mr. Lobdell’s life lessons weren’t always immediately discovered, but their truth at some point would become apparent. Although Mr. Lobdell knew the impetus of education was in the classroom, he also saw the value of students’ maturity in an athletic arena as he compared essential learning in the classroom with the important skills in athletics. While serving as a volunteer coach in many venues, he freely gave his time for several years, instructing young baseball players in the fundamentals of the game. Just as he demanded discipline with his student-athletes, he clearly demonstrated the same attribute in his lifetime passion for bowling.

Brother Brett noted the long list of Blake’s bowling accomplishments. But the reason for them, however, was always simple: Blake scored innumerable perfect 300 games during practice sessions, focusing on just one specific skill set. It was also this mentality that devised the “Lobdell Family Bowling Cup,” a competition designed to enhance the next generation of Lobdell bowlers. While other family members attended and cheered, one constant was always Jane, Blake’s wife. True, to some Mr. Lobdell could be candid and firm, but he found perfect balance with his outgoing and personable life-long mate. Their sons, Bryce and Colin, a senior and freshman at UNI, grew up in a home where love, respect and decency were expectations. Blake took great pride in the character of his two sons, just as his father, Jack, would have resonated as well. Blake was a huge WWII buff and Atlanta Braves fan. He was a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church; Mason City Bowling Association; Greater Iowa Bowling Association; and Mason City Bowlers Hall of Fame.

Blake is survived by his loving wife, Jane, Clear Lake; two sons, Bryce and Colin, Clear Lake; sister, Kim Miller, Iowa City; two brothers, Brett (Sonja) Lobdell, Belmond, and Tracy (Stacy) Lobdell, Marshalltown; mother-in-law, Carol Showalter, and special friend Roger Paulsen, Belmond; brother-in-law, Greg (Dennett) Showalter, Belmond; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Lobdell; mother, Shirley Nicholson, and stepfather, Eugene Nicholson; brother, Kurt Lobdell; and father-in-law, Rich Showalter. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
September 20, 2011