- Patrick J. Blohm, 82, Little Chute, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, after a courageous battle with cancer. Pat was born on March 17, 1929 in Appleton, WI and raised by his Mom and his grandparents. At the age of 9, he and his brother, Robert, moved in with their Mom and Step-father, Marie and Walter Blohm. He graduated from Menasha High School, where he played football and baseball.
Pat enlisted in the Navy, where he lettered in football and was part of the Dental Tech School. He also served on the submarine force in Hawaii during his 3rd year in the Navy. After his discharge from the Navy, Pat played 14 years of amateur baseball in Wisconsin. Golf was also a big part of Pat's life and he was very fortunate to record 2 holes-in-one.
In 1951, Pat married his sweetheart, Bernice Vander Wyst of Little Chute. Pat worked in the Marketing department at Thilmany for over 25 years. Prior to and after retirement from Thilmany, Pat worked as an insurance agent with Banker's Life & Casualty. He was very successful and was recognized for his efforts as a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable Club. Pat retired from the insurance industry after 28 very productive years. Pat was a lifelong Green Bay Packer season ticket holder and an avid spectator for all of the sporting events of his children and grandchildren. In addition, he was active in his community and he served as a village trustee in Little Chute, for 8 years. Pat served as a church trustee, lecturer and CCD teacher at St. John Nepomucene for many years. Pat and Bernice celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August with a special blessing from Bishop Ricken.
Pat leaves behind his loving wife of 60 years, Bernice, Little Chute; as well as 6 wonderful children and their families,
Mary (John) Kolosso, Little Chute, their children Ryan (Heather) and their children, Kennedy and Ireland, Troy (Kelly) and their children, Faith and Madelyn and Trisha Kolosso;
Steve (Mary) Blohm, Sugar Grove, IL and their children, Becky and Matt;
Deb (Dan) Valentyn, Little Chute, their children, Eric (Tasha) Valentyn, Ross, Scott and Robb Valentyn;
Jane (Dan) Van Den Heuvel, Little Chute, their children, Kevin, Kurt (fiancé Whitney Huolihan) and Alyssa;
Barb (Dick) Van Grinsven, Chilton, their children, Heidi, Holly (Adam) Tittman and Gretchen Van Grinsven;
Tim (Jodi) Blohm, Brookfield, and their son, Garrett.
Pat is further survived by his sister-in-laws; Dorothy Van Deurzen, Carol Vander Wyst and Betty Vander Wyst.
In addition to his Mother and Step-father, Pat is also preceded in death by his brother: Robert; his father: Frank Burke; his in-laws; Joe (Betty) Vander Wyst, Richard Vander Wyst, Roger Vander Wyst, James Van Deurzen and Ray (Margaret) Vandenberg.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, September 24, 2011, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, 323 S. Pine St., Little Chute, with Fr. James Hablewitz officiating. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery, Little Chute. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 am until the time of the mass. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Pat's name for the Green Bay Diocesan Seminarian Fund and other family wishes.
The family of Pat would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the caregivers who took such wonderful care of Pat over the last 18 months.
Verkuilen Funeral Home
& Cremation Services Little Chute 920 788 3321 www.verkuilenfh.com
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on September 22, 2011
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1929 - 2011 (82 years)
1940 Census
