1933-FREDERICK BLAU-2018
Blau, Frederick Dwayne, age 85 of Reading, MN, passed away Thursday, September 20, 2018 at the Slayton Healthcare Center. Frederick “Fred” was the 8th of 11 children born on the family farm in Lyon County, Iowa, on June 14, 1933 to parents, Harry and Margaret (Duin) Blau. He attended Country School northeast of George. He quit school in the 6th grade to help his dad on the family farm, which, back then, included milking cows by hand and doing field work with a team of horses. It was at a church picnic that he met and married his wife of 64 years, Nancy Lorraine Klingenberg, also of George, on February 1, 1954. In 1953 Fred entered into service joining the U.S. Army. After basic training in the states, Fred was stationed in Germany for 18 months. It was there that he became an excellent marksman winning a trophy at one competition. After being honorably discharged in 1955, Fred and Nancy farmed in several communities in NW Iowa, renting farms near Sibley, Ocheydan and Harris. It was in NW Iowa that they became the parents of 6 children. In 1972 Fred and Nancy bought a farm NW of Reading, MN. They moved there in 1975 where they have now lived for 43 years. Fred was one of the last of the old generation farmers. He spent many years raising corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats, milking cows, raising cattle, hogs and chickens. He never purchased new equipment but survived his farming days by buying used or fixing up his old farm machinery, some of which he used for over 50 years.
Fred enjoyed bowling and was on a league in Lake Park, IA and Wilmont, MN in his earlier years. He also enjoyed fishing, but his greatest pastime was buying antiques at farm sales or flea markets especially buying and fixing up old gas engines which he proudly displayed at many threshing bees around the state of Minnesota and Iowa, often with his family camping nearby.
Fred loved telling stories about the past and how things used to be. He took great joy in teaching his grandkids how life on the farm worked. He will truly be missed. Fred was a former council member at Bethel Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Reading and past commander of the Wilmont VFW Post #3941.
Fred is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Margaret (Duin) Blau; daughter, Wanda; brothers, Bernard, Kenneth and Frederick B.; sisters, Veda Mae Klaassen, Margaret Kitchenmaster and Blanche Blau.
He is survived by wife, Nancy; sons, Elray (Julie), Alvin “Al” (Julie) and Mark (Jodi); daughters, Dawn Noerenberg and Janet (Jerry Reyes) Bakker; grandchildren, Jennifer and Lacy Blau, Allison, Emily and Angela Blau, Melissa (Tyler) Quinn, Christina, Matthew and Casey Noerenberg, Michael, Joseph, Christopher and Daniel Bakker, and Amanda (Matt) Langland; step grandchildren, Bradley, Steven (Carissa), Sara and Travis (Harlie) Swanson; 5 great grandchildren; 6 step great grandchildren; sisters, Geraldine Harms, Velva Korthals and Nina Faye Zylstra; brother, Harry Marvin (Barb); many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral Wednesday, September 26th 11:00 AM with visitation starting at 10:00AM at Bethel Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 19816 Moser Avenue, Reading, MN, 56165. Interment 3:30 PM at Zoar Presbyterian Cemetery, Rural George, Iowa. Visitation also at church Tuesday from 3:00 – 7:00 PM. Memorials preferred to Bethel Presbyterian Church or Wilmont VFW.
