August Joseph Blauwet Jr.

Larchwood, Iowa August J. Blauwet Jr., age 79 of Larchwood, died early Saturday morning, October 21, 2006 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, Oct. 24th at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA, with Fr. Jeff Schleisman as Celebrant. Burial will follow at the Larchwood Cemetery with military honors by the Flessner American Legion Post #561 of Larchwood. Visitation will be Monday, Oct. 23rd from 2-8 PM, with the family present from 6-8 PM at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood. There will be a 7:00 PM vigil service Monday evening at the church. August, the son of August Joseph, Sr., and Alice (Strubbe) Blauwet, was born on November 11, 1926, on a farm near Larchwood, Iowa. He attended St. Marys School in Larchwood. After his graduation in 1945, he spent two years in the U.S. Air Force, serving with the occupation troops in the Philippines. Following his discharge from the service, he started farming with his father, uncle, and brothers Charles and Albert. On March 31, 1951, he was united in marriage with Edna Mae Karpinske. The couple remained living on the farm and raised their family there. August retired from farming in 1989, and in 1990, he and Edna Mae moved into Larchwood. Due to failing health, he moved to Fellowship Village nursing home in Inwood, IA, in 2005. August was a lifetime member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood. His faith was very dear to him, and he actively participated in many church activities, such as working on the church building committee and serving as an usher for many years. He was also active in the Larchwood civic community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Larchwood Elevator and being a member of the local American Legion post. August, like his father, was a nationally recognized beef producer and was well known to many at the Sioux Falls and Sioux City Stockyards. Gus loved the land. He was a good farmer and an excellent mentor to his sons. He enjoyed watching all things grow (except weeds!), and was an avid gardener. One of his greatest joys was to share the produce from his garden with family and friends. Gus enjoyed playing cards, baseball, bowling, fishing, golfing, and hunting. He was always ready to pick up a deck of cards and play a game with his family and friends. He was the catcher on the Larchwood baseball team for several years, and he and Edna Mae bowled in a league for many years. In his later years, he could be seen golfing with his buddies on the local golf course. Among his many accomplishments, he harvested a buck that qualified for the Iowa record book in 1996 and, of course, caught many "whoppers" over the years while fishing in Minnesota and Canada. He also loved to tease and to tell jokes. His impish grin and gentle chuckle was endearing to all. He was very proud of his Belgian heritage. One of the highlights of his life was traveling to Belgium to visit his relatives and to spend time on the farm where his mother was raised. His greatest pride and joy, however, was his family. Family celebrations were always a highlight for him, as he loved nothing better than to be surrounded by his 8 children, 13 grandchildren, 2 great-grandsons, and their spouses and friends. He is survived by his wife, Edna Mae, and eight children: Diane Trei, Sioux Falls, SD; Dudley, Erie, CO; Julaine (Steve) Davis, Ankeny, IA; Thomas (Kimberly) and James (Dorothy), Larchwood, IA; Lori, Rochester, MN; Mary Beth, Furlong, PA; and Lisa (Michael) Duncan, Sioux Falls, SD; thirteen grandchildren: Jeffery (Jill), Daniel, Jeremy (Katie), Ryan, Stephanie (Brad), Ethan, Benjamin, Caleb, Andrew, Justin, Jessica, Cody, and Zachary; and 2 great-grandchildren: Aaron and Alec; as well as one brother, Albert, Inwood, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Charles. Memorials may be given to either the Alzheimer's Association or Avera McKennan Hospice.