Jerome Blaskowski

Jerome C. Blaskowski, age 85 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully Saturday, November 16, 2013 surrounded by his family at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 20 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Dick McGuire officiating. Interment with military honors will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by the Sauk Centre United Veterans prayer service at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Jerome Clifford Blaskowski was born September 25, 1928 in Jamestown, North Dakota to Felix and Lucille (Schwartz) Blaskowski. He grew up on a farm near Buchanan, North Dakota and the family moved to Brainerd, Minnesota in 1935. He began school in Brainerd and in 1940 the family moved to a farm near Sedan, Minnesota, where he finished school.

In the fall of 1951 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Korean Conflict until he was honorably discharged in 1953. On September 6, 1954 he was united in marriage to Mildred Joan Johnson at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood, Minnesota. That same fall he began driving a gas transport hauling Standard Oil products for Ruan for nine years. He later drove for Standard Oil Company until his retirement in 1984. After his retirement he worked part-time for Mike Klaphake, Silver Fir Sales and Cabinet Components.

As a young man, he hunted mink and pheasants with his brother. He also enjoyed restoring Willys Army Jeeps, which he had driven in Korea. There he had chauffeured John Eisenhower in a Willys Jeep when Eisenhower visited his area.

He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, American Legion Post 67 and was a 50-year member of the Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Blaskowski of Sauk Centre; three children, Julie Denk of Sauk Centre, Tim (Sharon) Blaskowski of Melrose and Norman Blaskowski of Sauk Centre; four grandchildren, Rodney (Lucinda) Denk, Michael (Amy) Blaskowski, Christopher (Nicole) Blaskowski and David (Amanda) Blaskowski; two great-granddaughters, Claire and Ava, and one on the way; sisters, Celesta Doege and Eleanor Berggren, both of Glenwood; brother, Felix (Mercida) Blaskowski of Glenwood; sister-in-law, Betty Blaskowski of Farwell; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Stanley and Alfred Blaskowski; sisters, Pat Huerkamp and infant Roseanne; sister-in-law, Lillian Blaskowski; brothers-in-law, Albert Doege, Pep Berggren and Alvin Huerkamp.

Serving as casket bearers will be his grandsons, Rodney Denk, Mike, Chris and David Blaskowski and his nephews, Grant Blaskowski and Jerry Huerkamp.