Blakely, Floyd Thomas

Floyd Thomas Blakely, 87, of Iowa City, died Oct. 6, 2009, at Atrium Village, Hills, following a brief illness.

The son of Henry King Blakely and Lola Ann (Burgett) Blakely, Floyd was born on the family farm near Harlan, Iowa, on Aug. 25, 1922. After graduating from Harlan High School in 1939, he married Jean Marie Christensen on Aug. 13, 1941.

In 1951, they moved to Le Mars, where Floyd worked with Farm Bureau as FB fieldsman, manager of FB Service Co. and finally as a career insurance agent until his retirement in 1987. As an insurance agent, Floyd achieved the coveted designation of CLU. Floyd held both committee and officer positions in the Siouxland Life Underwriters, The Iowa Association of Life Underwriters and the Siouxland Chapter of CLU's.

He was a longtime member of the Methodist Church, served on the Le Mars Planning and Zoning Commission, and was a member of the Le Mars Elks Club for nearly 40 years. At retirement, Floyd and Jean moved to Iowa City. He enjoyed woodworking, swimming and traveling. He bragged of driving in every one of the 48 contiguous states and traveling in all 50.

Preceding him in death were his parents; an infant daughter, Judith; and his brother, Don.

Surviving are his wife, Jean, of Hills' Atrium Village; sisters, Ruth Linton of Harlan and Iona Underwood of Omaha; son, Dr. Jerry Blakely (Karen) of Carlsbad, Calif.; daughters, Karen Daubenberger (Rex) of Iowa City and Mary McDonald (John) of LaCrescent, Minn.; grandchildren, Michael Blakely (Marni), Peter Blakely (Marla Sarkozy), Lisa Johnson (Paul), Kari Allen (Robb) and Kelly Wardwell (Chris); and nine great-grandchildren.

Services will be at a later date in Cuppy's Grove Cemetery near Harlan.

Memorial donations may be made to Iowa City Hospice or Atrium Village, Hills.