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Marvin Blaess
MARVIN BLAESS
Grinnell
Marvin Henry Blaess, 98, of Grinnell, died Jan. 25, 2014, at Grinnell
Regional Medical Center. Funeral services are
scheduled for 11 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 31, at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Burial will be Friday after-
noon at Linwood Park
Cemetery in Boone.
Visitation with the family present will be one hour
before the service at the
funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn or St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.
Marvin was born on a farm northwest of Boone on Jan. 21, 1916, to Louis and Anna Kruetner Blaess. He attended St. Paul's Lutheran School and graduated from the 8th grade. He then worked on the family farm. At the age of 20, he married Darlene Ione Harris at her folk's home in Boone. Following their
marriage, he held various jobs and in 1942, worked for the Chicago & North Western Railroad as a fireman. In March 1944, he was sent to Europe to operate locomotives, hauling Army supplies throughout France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He arrived back in the United States in January 1946.
In 1947, he attended engineer's school, then took his engineer's examination in Chicago and was promoted to engineer. He retired from the railroad in 1974 and moved to Holiday Lake, north of
Brooklyn. In 1984, he and his wife moved into the town of Brooklyn and started a garden produce business. He took care of the garden and Darlene was in charge of selling the produce. Their next move was to Grinnell, where he resided until his death.
Marvin was a member of Grace United Methodist Church of Brooklyn, Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and Engineers, United Transportation Union, Elks Lodge and the American Legion.
He loved to hunt, fish and garden. He and Darlene spent most of the winters in Fort Meyers Beach, Fla., until their health no longer allowed them to go.
He is survived by his daughter, Elaine Schafbuch; daughter-in-law, Katie Blaess Swikert; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Darlene; his son, Darrell; and two great-grandsons.
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