Mary Blake
Mary E. Blake, 97, of Waukon died Sunday, November 19, 2017 at her home. Funeral services were held Saturday, November 25 at St. Mary's Catholic Church Hanover in rural Waukon with Rev. Jerry Blake officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Mary Blake Memorial, 1972 State Highway 76 N, Waukon, IA 52172.
Mary E. Hammell was born February 16, 1920 on the family farm on the Sand Cove in rural New Albin, the daughter of Cornelius “Con” and Mary T. (Wall) Hammell. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Albin and graduated from high school in Lansing. She completed teacher training in La Crosse, WI and taught in rural Allamakee County schools for several years.
August 11, 1942, Mary married John Patrick Blake at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, New Albin and focused her teaching on their new family. They farmed on the Upper Iowa River near Dorchester before buying a farm in Hanover, where the family has resided for the past 60 years.
She and her husband were instrumental in starting organic farming. They were active in efforts to protect family farms and their land from condemnation by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or eminent domain, and other political activities in support of family farms. They often hosted meetings of local farmers, and Mary enjoyed serving them and others who came to visit.
Mary taught their 13 children the joy of serving others through the fine arts of sewing, cooking and baking, including the eight loaves of bread they learned to bake every other day. She loved serving her family and, even on her last night, made sure to help set the table properly for dining.
Mary was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hanover, where she belonged to the Rosary Society and taught religious education classes. She was also a member of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, National Catholic Society of Foresters, the Upper Iowa River Preservation Association and the National Farmers Organization. Mary enjoyed gardening, interior decorating and traveling.
Mary is survived by her children: Mary Therese (Jeff) Abbas, Betty (Dennis) Regan, Carol (Don) Hatch, Bonnie (Jack) Sweeney, Cathy (Jim) Wadsworth, Donna Cummings, John (Lissa) Blake, Rev. Jerry Blake, Francis Blake, Con (Beth) Blake, Julie (Steve) Phillips and Dan (Jean) Blake; a daughter-in-law, Linda Blake; 35 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Walter (Betty) Hammell; and a sister, Margaret Blake.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John, in 1991; a son, Jim Blake; a son-in-law, Don Klauke; two brothers, John and Ray Hammell; a sister, Agnes Troendle; and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Honorary casketbearers were her Godchildren: Sacha Sweeney Newman, Judy Blake Bailey, Carolyn Hammell Thorsten, Jerry Mauss, Ron Troendle and Ted Hammell. Casketbearers were grandsons representing the families: Patrick Blake, Will Blake, Blake Phillips, Matt Blake, Jordan Cummings, Michael Wadsworth, John Sweeney, Andy Hatch, Darren Regan and Fred Klauke.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
