Obituary - Posted: 1/13/05
Robert Blair
Robert J. "Bob" Blair, age 72, of Wabasha, died Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at St. Elizabethís Medical Center in Wabasha.
He was born October 26, 1932, in Brownsvile, MN, the son of John and Mary (Davy) Blair. He attended Brownsville and Caledonia schools, graduating from Loretto High School in Caledonia in 1950.
He was employed by the railroad for a short while after high school and then for 12 years he worked for the Trane Company in La Crosse. He then began his career with the U. S. Postal Service, serving as postmaster in Brownsville from 1962 until 1972. He moved to Wabasha and served as postmaster until his retirement in 1991.
Bob served in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict from 1953 until 1955 where he was stationed in Austria.
He married Mary Buege October 25, 1952 at St. Josephís Catholic Church in New Albin, IA.
He had served on the Brownsville School Board and the parish council of St. Patrickís Catholic Church and the church cemetery board in Brownsville. He was one of the founding members of the Veterans Cemetery in Brownsville.
In Wabasha, he was a volunteer at the Wabasha County Development Achievement Center and was active in the Wabasha-Kellogg High School Mat Club.
He was a proud member of the White Earth Band of Chippewa Ojibwe Indians. He was also a life member of the Knights of Columbus in La Crescent. He was a member of the Wabasha American Legion Post and a member of the Brownsville and Wabasha VFW Posts.
He thoroughly enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren. He also enjoyed wrestling, bowling, fishing the outdoors and camping. He was an avid Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins fan.
Bob is survived by his wife; four sons, Robert (Yoko) Blair, Jr., Bessemer, AL; Michael (Joann) Blair, Lake City, MN; Brian (Maxine) Blair, La Crescent; James (Tanya) Blair, Albert Lea; five daughters, Cheryl (Robert) Bauer, Nelson, WI; Ann (Don) Pfeilsticker, Wabasha; Mary (Thomas) Hoeft, Mantorville, MN; Laura and Jon Schmoker, Kellogg, MN; Karri Blair and fiancee Anwar Salah, Eyota, MN; 20 grandchildren; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Darlene and William McGinnis, San Jose, CA; Joy and Ron Tuma, La Crosse; Judy and John Bauer, Durand, WI; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren, Adam and Tori Pretzer.
A funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, January 14, 2005 at 11a.m. at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha with the Reverend Donald Lovas officiating. Interment will be in Veterans Cemetery in Brownsville. The Wabasha American Legion Post #50 and the Wabasha Burkhardt-Roemer VFW Post #4086 will perform military rites in Wabasha. Casket bearers will be William McGinnis, John Bauer, Ron Tuma, Wayne, Glen and Robert Buege and James Dennis.
Friends may call at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. where there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Friends may also call at the church on Friday one hour before the service.
The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements.
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