Donald J. Blonigen

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - Donald J. Blonigen, 75, of Charles City, died Friday, February 29, 2008, at the Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A funeral Mass for Donald Blonigen will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. The Reverend Carl Ries will celebrate the Mass. Inurnment will be at a later date in Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday where there the Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. followed by a Vigil Scriptural Wake Service. Visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday an hour prior to the Mass.

Donald Joseph Blonigen was born March 16, 1932, at St. Cloud, Minn., the son of John and Laura (Weyrauch) Blonigen. He graduated from Cathedral High School at St. Cloud and received his Bachelors Degree at St. Cloud State College. Donald served four years in the United States Navy. On July 21, 1962, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Dirks at Sartell, Minn. He owned and operated OK Hardware and was employed at the Charles City Housing Rehab until retiring in 1996. After retirement Donald owned and operated the OK Garden Center in Charles City until 2001. Donald was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where he served on the parish council, Knights of Columbus, Lions, Elks, Cedar Valley Ski Club and served on the YMCA and Charles City Housing Board. His interests included skiing, golfing, playing cards and going to coffee.

Living family members include his wife, Dorothy Blonigen of Charles City; two sons, Scott (Mary) Blonigen of Newburgh, Ind. and Brad (Kim) Blonigen of Wichita, Kans.; three grandchildren, Alex, Eric, and John Blonigen; two step grandchildren, Emily and Chris Szkrybalo; two sisters, Dorothy (Jerome) Lahr of St. Cloud, Minn. and Donna (Ira) Lenz of St. Cloud, Minn.; two brothers, Jerome Blonigen of St. Cloud, Minn. and Harvey (Meg) Blonigen of Burnsville, Minn; one brother-in-law, Joseph Burich of Colerain, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Luverne Burich.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Immaculate Conception Catholic School or to the YMCA in Charles City.

The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, www.hauserfh.com, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements.