Marjorie Blake

Marjorie A. Blake, 81, of Waukon, Iowa, formerly of Denver, Iowa, died Thursday, January 27, 2005, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Monday, January 31 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, rural Waukon, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was in St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Denver. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was in charge of arrangements.
Marjorie Ann Blake was born November 25, 1923, in Parkers Prairie, Minn., the daughter of Vern and Alma (Gumm) Schuldt. She was baptized at the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church in Parkers Prairie. At a very young age, Marjorie moved with her family to rural Westgate, Iowa, where she was confirmed at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and attended the parish school. She graduated from Maynard High School.
On February 14, 1942, she married Richard W. Blake at St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Marjorie worked for General Motors in Oakland, Calif., while Richard served in the Marines during World War II. After his discharge they returned to northeast Iowa where Marjorie worked as office manager for Visiting Nurses Association in Waterloo for many years. The couple lived in Waterloo, Sumner, Independence, Cedar Falls, and Denver. Marjorie moved to Waukon in 2003.
Marjorie served on the Library Board when she lived in Denver. She was an avid bridge player, made beautiful cross-stitched quilts, and enjoyed working crossword puzzles and reading. She liked music, played the piano, and formerly sang with a group in Westgate known as the "Nasal Twang Quartet." Her family knew her as an excellent cook who loved to host holiday and special family dinners, after which she would often recall family history through her stories.
Survivors include three sons, Bo (Beth) Blake of Waverly, Iowa, Rex (Marlys) Blake of Waukon, and Jack (Vicki) Blake of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; three daughters, Jane (Charles) McCrum of Bonners Ferry, Cathy Blake of La Jolla, Calif., and Carrie Blake of Waukon; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Eloise Masters of Council, N.C.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Richard who died in 2002; and a sister, Phyllis Meade.
Casketbearers were her grandchildren, Kara Goldblum; Anna, Katelan, Luther, Zachary, and Benjamin Blake; Holly Holthaus; and Blaine, Adam, Blake, and Sarah Kusler.