Alvin “Butch” Gilbert Blatz of Stanchfield, MN passed away on June 25, 2016 at his son’s home in Rush City, at the age of 80.
Alvin was born in New Trier, MN on September 20, 1935 to Edward and Susanna (Bungert) Blatz, he was the youngest of fourteen children. He was baptized at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in New Trier. His mother passed away when he was four months old; his sisters Lorraine, AnnElla, and Dorothy then helped care for him. After 8th grade Alvin moved to Mieseville, MN to live with his sister AnnElla and her husband George. His first job, at age 15, was at H. D. Hudson Manufacturing where he made hand sprayers. In 1954, Alvin married Ferrell Kingrey. In 1957, they moved to New Brighton, MN where Alvin worked at Mengalkochs until 1967 when he moved to the farm in Stanchfield, MN with his wife Ferrell and their family.
Together they raised five children, four sons and a daughter. Having a farm was something that he always wanted. In 1985, Alvin had triple bypass surgery and was unable to continue farming so he went to work at Sam’s Masonry while continuing to crop farm. Although he retired, he always continued to work on the farm.
His greatest enjoyments were having family get-togethers, having the grandchildren sleep over and serving them his famous meatballs or goulash dinners, four wheeling on his 7 miles of trails, grilling, and the two weeks of family deer hunting on the farm.
Alvin is preceded in death by his parents Edward and Susanna (Bungert) Blatz; siblings, Clara (Math) Becker, Marie (Otto) Doffing, Lucilla (Bob) Holz, Isabel (Kermie) Schwie, Gilbert Blatz, Virginia (Ray) Morse, Alcuin Blatz, Lorraine (Godfrey) Doffing, Dorothy (Jim) Eckhart, LeRoy Blatz, AnnElla (George) Bretschneider, and sister Dora and brother Clifford who passed away in infancy.
He is survived by his wife, Ferrell; children, Dan (Cindy) of Rush City, Sheila (Ken) Seibert of Mora, Doyle of Stanchfield, Aaron (Darla) of Isanti, and Heath (Annette) of Grasston; grandchildren, Andrea (Ryan) Thompson of Merridian, ID, Madison (Latasha) Seibert of Mora, Patrick Blatz of Rush City, Grace (Fiancé John Clair) Seibert of Mora, Travis (Lizzy) Blatz of Braham, Cameron Seibert of Mora, and Ethan, Lydia, Elliot, and Eli Blatz of Grasston; great-grandchildren, Jaxson, Chase, and Dakoda Seibert of Mora, Waylon Blatz of Braham, and Nolan Thompson of Merridian, ID; sisters-in-law, Sabina Blatz of Hastings, Susan Blatz of Saint Catherine’s, IA, and MaryAnn Blatz of Rock Falls, IL; many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 1, 2016 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Mora. Inurnment will be in the Rice Lake Cemetery in Braham. Arrangements are by the Rock Ingebrand Funeral Home of Braham. Condolences may be posted at www.aifuneralhome.com.