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F. Blaschke, Jr., (Chuck), 91, peacefully departed this earth for his heavenly home on Friday, October 13, 2017, surrounded by family, friends and clergy at the North Dakota Veterans Home in Lisbon, North Dakota. Chuck has been a resident of the North Dakota Veterans Home since 2003. The Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM, at the North Dakota Veterans Home, Friday, October 20, 2017. Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, in Valley City, North Dakota, Friday, October 20, 2017. Charles loved his God, family and country.
Chuck, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, was born May 28, 1926, the first son of Charles and Julia Tobin Blaschke. He attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School, graduated from Rockhurst High School in 1943, and enrolled in Rockhurst College. He joined the Navy in 1944, and served as a Machinist Mate 2nd Class aboard the USS Elmore, APA 42, a troop transport carrier in the South Pacific during World War II, involved in many troop landings, with one of them being Okinawa from April 1-5, 1945. Upon honorable discharge, Chuck attended Kansas University in Lawrence, studying mechanical engineering. He married Ann Novak April 14, 1951, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Strawberry Hill, in Kansas City, Kansas. Reaffirmation of their wedding vows in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary was held at St. John’s. Chuck has had a great life with a career in civil engineering, designing and building power plants, roadwork, dams and bridges in the Kansas City area. His dedicated work was responsible for the award-winning Randolph Bridge, the longest bridge in the state of Kansas (1960-61). While working on a project in 1967, Chuck sustained a severe electrical shock from a 108,000 volt electric line on I-435 along the Missouri River. He and his wife Ann raised six loving children on a ranch with Charolaise cattle. Nonetheless, Chuck has a passion for animals big and small! Upon his retirement, he and Ann traveled the United States and British Columbia, taking their grandchildren on trips, and visiting the national parks. Chuck most recently spent his time listening to books-on-tape and still solving mathematical problems. Two of Chuck’s sons and one grandson followed Chuck’s steps, in the United States military. Two of his grandsons are engineers.
He is survived by his six children: Cynthia Blaschke, Okatie, South Carolina, Col. Charles F. Blaschke, III, (Celinei), US Army Reserve (Ret.), Bahia, Brazil, Steve Blaschke (Jackie), Marcia Clark (Bob), League City, Texas, Michael Blaschke (Chielo), US Naval Reserves (Ret.), Fargo, North Dakota, and Joan Moritz (Ben), Beaufort, South Carolina; eleven grandchildren: Dr. Stacey (Mark) Elwartowski, DVM, and Matthew Dick, Charles Blaschke IV and Alexa Blaschke, Leah Blaschke and Tommy Blaschke, Christine (Eric) Lohoff and Patrick Blaschke, Devyn Jensen, and Ashley Critelli and Justin (Jessica) Critelli; and seven great-grandchildren: Christopher Tipton, Ella Tipton and Jake Elwartowski, Mia Celina Blaschke, Weston Lohoff, and Jaiden and Jackson Critelli.
Charles is predeceased by his parents Julia and Charles, his beloved wife, Ann Blaschke; and siblings Stella Maroon, Betty Marie Smallwood, and William Blaschke.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the North Dakota Veterans Home or a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Schuldt Mathias Funeral Home of Valley City, ND. The online guestbook is available at www.lerudschuldt.com.