James "Jim" Blake, age 93, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at the Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center in Riceville, Iowa.
James (Jim) Carl Blake was born May 7, 1927 to Albert and Mary Blake, and grew up on a farm two and half miles south of Meyer, Iowa. He had five brothers and sisters; Annabelle, Leon, Mary, Susan, and Catherine. While he only attended school for eight years, his common-sense knowledge served him well through his 93 years. His mother often commented that as a teenager, Jimmy, was a “snappy” dresser which continued throughout his life, surviving even the 1970’s white shoes and powder blue leisure suit phase.
He married Genevieve Retterath in Sacred Heart Church in Adams, Minnesota on October 30, 1951. As he would explain with a big grin at Retterath reunions, “I got the pick of the litter when I married her!” She was from a family of eleven.
He moved to Riceville, Iowa in the mid 1950’s with his young family to farm. He loved horses, an interest he shared with his father. As the family grew, he took on the job of butcher, a skill he gained from growing up on a self-sufficient Iowa farm, at the Riceville Locker and later also at the locker in Northwood, Iowa. He sang tenor on the Immaculate Conception men’s choir and later enjoyed singing with the barbershop choir, the Forte Milers. He was a fan of four-part harmony as was evidenced by his prized vinyl record collection. He also loved to dance and would on occasion sweep his wife, Genevieve, off her feet to dance around the living room to big band music in between their nights out going to the Terp Ballroom in Austin, Minnesota to see bands like Glenn Miller. In later years he took over gardening from Gen and was especially proud of his Dahlias and Gladiolas which he entered at the Howard County Fair. He took pride in the successes of his children and grandchildren.
Jim is survived by his children; Michael (Mike Allen) Blake of Iowa City, IA, Steven (Carolyn) Blake of Shakopee, MN, Ann Kindschuh of Shakopee, Karen (Dale) Hartman of Riceville, Rose (Dale) Gansen of Riceville, Cindy (Tom) Houser of Riceville, Marilyn (Mark Schultz) Blake of Riceville, Bill (David Blakesley) Blake of Atlanta, GA, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter, sisters; Mary Blake, Susan Wageman, Catherine (Merlyn) Brown and sister in-law, Mary Lou Blake and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Genevieve in 2002, a son Carl, a grandson, Steven Blake, great-granddaughter, Hadley Holgerson, a brother, Leon Blake, sister, Annabelle (Kenneth) Retterath and a brother in-law, Gary Wageman.
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19
Oct
401 East Main Street
Riceville, IA 50466
20
Oct
209 East Main St
Riceville, IA 50466
20
Oct
209 East Main St
Riceville, IA 50466
11358 Addison Avenue
Riceville, IA 50466
