Ronald Dale Blau

Sibley, IA Ronald Blau age 66 of Sibley, IA died Friday August 24, 2012 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Sibley, with Reverend Larry Laskie officiating. Burial will follow in the Gilman Township Cemetery in Ashton, IA. Visitation will be Monday, August 27th from 2-8 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Ronald Dale Blau, son of Bernard and Anna (Akkerman) Blau, was born on July 23, 1946 in Rock Rapids, IA. He attended country school and George Community School, graduating in 1965. While in school, he was an active 4-H member, showing Holstein cows. He also spent a lot of time drag racing at Thunder Valley. In 1969 he married Sandra Sterler in Sibley. They made their home in Hartley and then moved to Sibley in 1971 and have lived in the same house since. Ron worked at AMPI in Sibley for 25 years and retired in 1994 due to health reasons. Ron was an avid fisherman and also loved hunting before his health declined. He spent much time with his boys in the outdoors. He was active in Boy Scouts for many years with his sons, where he most enjoyed the trips to the Boundary Waters. He also shared a close relationship with his daughter, cooking, canning and riding along on car trips. Ron also loved gardening and took pride in providing fresh produce for all his family and friends. He most recently had taken to growing apple trees and large tomato plants. Ron spent most of his time fishing, but also gardening, canning and cooking for others and was famous for his fish fry using all the fish he and his boys had caught. His most precious time was spent surrounded by his loving wife, children and grandchildren. He and Sandy spent all their time together doing the things that they loved. He will be missed by many who came calling for coffee, great food, his fresh produce and just general fun conversation. This past Friday, August 24, 2012, Ron passed away at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley at the age of sixty-six. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Sandy; children and their spouses, Rod and LeAnn Blau of Wahpeton, IA, Ryan and Amy Blau of Spencer, IA, Amy and Keith Hakeneis of Fulda, MN; 5 grandchildren, Cody Blau, Kevin Hakeneis, Edyn Blau, Arick Hakeneis and Rafe Blau; sister-in-law, Helen and her husband Tom Malloy of Early, IA; 2 brothers-in-law, Hank Sterler of Spencer, IA and David Roth of Tempe, AZ; and many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by one son, Ricky; his parents; brother, Wendell; niece, Tiffany; father and mother-in-law, Claus and Ardis Sterler; brother-in-law, Robert Sterler; sister-in-law, Betty Ketterling; and sister-in-law, Clarice (Curly) Roth.