DONALD BLASNITZ

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Donald E. Blasnitz, 72, son of Henry Blasnitz and Blanche Perkins Blasnitz, died November 16, 2009 at Paula J. Barber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge, after a diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Humboldt, on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 19th at Gunderson Funeral Home. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Jefferson.

Donald was born on May 28, 1937 and raised in Jefferson. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1955 and attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri for two years. Donald was hired by the Iowa Department of Transportation where he worked for 42 years until he retired in 2000.

He married Janet Minnihan in 1958. Their children are Teresa Blasnitz Runkles of Nebraska City, NE; Jeffrey Blasnitz of Omaha, NE; and Jay Blasnitz who died at birth. The couple later divorced. Donald married Joyce Marten in 1973.

Donald enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and family. He spent many hours outdoors mowing, shoveling snow, and feeding the birds and squirrels.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce; children Teresa (Bill) Runkles; Jeff (Wanda) Blasnitz; grandchildren Joshua and Jake Runkles, Nick and Laura Blasnitz; three sisters Wyona Bennett and Marge Beecher of Jefferson, Gladys Ferguson of Grand Junction. Brother and sisters-in-law Doris (Larry) Sheeder, Dell (Becky) Marten, Bob Jirik, Leonard Kriha and many other loving family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, three brothers Bill, Charlie, and Darrell and six sisters Maxine Blasnitz, Beverly Blasnitz, Kay Jacobs, Joyce Jirik, Mary Lou Kriha, and Doris Murphy.

Memorials may be left to the Paula J. Barber Hospice Home or the American Cancer Society.