Willey, Blaine Lee

Blaine Lee Willey, 44, passed away April 16, 2011, near his home in Wood Dale, Ill.

He was born Aug. 6, 1966, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Linn-Mar High School, class of 1984. Blaine paid his own way through college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa. Blaine specialized in the commercial design and sales of HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning) systems. He was most recently employed by CES Engineering in Elk Grove, Ill. Blaine was a leader in energy and environmental design.

Blaine Lee is survived by his father, Clair Leroy of Marion; mother, Julianne Kay of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Keith Leroy (Laura) of St. Marys, Iowa and Joel Lael of Cedar Rapids; sisters, Leigh Ellen (Dennis) Carson of Cedar Rapids and Lynn Alayne (Eric) Frantz of Iowa City; and nieces and nephews, Nicolas and Nathan Willey, Janay and Blake Carson, Aiden, Christian and Olivia Frantz.

Many people of all kinds were drawn to Blaine by his good qualities, his hard work, his incredible thinking abilities, his vivacious and engaging personality and his ability to be a friend, a good friend to many people.

Please join Blaine's family and all who loved him for a gathering together to remember him, to express your thoughts and insights of him, to show your love for him to his family and his loved ones. Please come and take a turn to help give insight to others about the man you knew as Blaine. The love we all have in our heart for this man will never ever go away.

Come bear witness to that love Saturday, May 14, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, 1844 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Family will receive visitors at noon, with a service following at 2 p.m.