Donald J. Blaess

Donald Blaess, age 60, of Ridgeway, IA, died on Thursday, March 13, 2008, at the Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN, following a year long battle with lung cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 17, 2008, at Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, IA, with Rev. Phil and Rev. Ginny Olson officiating. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, IA. Friends may call from 2:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa, and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Monday morning. Donald Jerome Blaess was born on June 28, 1947, the son of Leonard and Fern “Opal” (Blomgren) Blaess in Decorah, Iowa. He was baptized on July 26, 1947 and confirmed at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church. Donald attended rural country school in Winneshiek County and school in Harmony, MN. He served in the US Army from 1964 – 1967 in Thailand. Don married Katherine Thorson on July 9, 1966, and they later divorced. Don farmed for Vity McCabe, operated a can milk route and worked for the Winneshiek County Secondary Roads Dept. The last thirty-five years he worked at Camcar Textron in Decorah, as manufacturing specialist. Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, working on cars and being outside. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, having all six of them for the week of July 4th. He also enjoyed the Labor Day Family Get Together. Don was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church, Ridgeway, IA; Ridgeway City Council Variance Committee; and the VFW Post #4561 in Cresco, IA. Donald’s survivors include his fiancé: Laurie Jensen, Ridgeway, IA. One daughter: Angela (Jim) Veatch, Bondurant, IA. One son: Donald K. (Brenda) Blaess, Cresco, IA. Six grandchildren: Todd & Grant Veatch; Stephanie, Amanda, Nicholas and Emily Blaess. Three sisters: Sandra (Nate) Thorson, Cresco, IA; Judy (Jim) Zweibohmer, Cresco, IA and Bev Blaess, Ridgeway, IA. One brother: Michael (Missy) Blaess, Agency, IA and several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Laurie’s children: Mitchell (Lindsey) Jensen, Dallas, TX and Michelle (Matt) Fox, St. Louis, MO. Laurie’s grandchildren: Caden Jensen, Grace, Madison & Sam Fox. Laurie’s mother: Marilou Pospical, Riceville, IA. Laurie’s siblings: Linda Wilkinson, Cedar Rapids, IA; Leo (Susan) Pospical, Delano, MN; Mary (Linus) Luzum, Calmar, IA; Debbie (Mike) Mayer, Lakeville, MN and Joe Pospical, Riceville, IA. Don's former wife: Katherine Blaess, Decorah, IA and many nieces and nephews. Donald was preceded in death by his parents: Leonard and Fern “Opal” Blaess. One infant son and one brother: Bobby Blaess.