Obit: Blackwood, Harry A. (1921 - 2006)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Blackwood, Stoetzel, Golden, Gonering, Bauer, Reif, Hannum, Schuster, Beyerl, Lecher, Hoffman, Weitzel, Olson, Brown, Kaniewski

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) February 11, 2006

Blackwood, Harry A. (29 July 1921 - 9 Feb. 2006)

Harry A. Blackwood

Harry A. Blackwood, 84, 712 Western St., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, at Saint Joseph's Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, at St. John's Catholic Church. The Rev. Charles D. Stoetzel will officiate and Suzanne Golden will be the organist for St. John's Church Funeral Choir. Burial will take place in Gate of Heaven Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Michael Gonering, Albert Bauer, Andrew Reif, Robert Hannum, Gordon Schuster and Dr. Gerald Beyerl.

The visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Monday, both at Rembs/Kundinger Funeral Home. A combined St. John's Parish and Knights of Columbus Rosary Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly will form a guard of honor from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Harry was born on July 29, 1921, in the town of McMillan, Marathon County, to Archie and Leona (Lecher) Blackwood. He received his education at Dodge School in the town of McMillan, St. John's Parochial School, Marshfield, and graduated from McKinley High School in 1939.

He married Gertrude M. Bauer of Colby on Nov. 27, 1943, at St. John's Catholic Church. He farmed with his parents until 1963, when he became deputy assessor for the city of Marshfield. While living in McMillan, he served as township assessor, justice of the peace, was a member of the fire department, school clerk of Dodge School and a member of Western Marathon County Civil Defense Team. He also was a 25-year member of the International Association of Assessing Offices and the Wisconsin Assessors Association, holding the credentials of a certified assessor III. He served four years as Marshfield civil defense director. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society, the Parish Council and the treasurer of St. John's Athletic Association for 26 years. He was very active in and an honorary life member of Father John Eisen Council 1799 of the Knights of Columbus, having held all of the offices and was grand knight from 1964 until 1968. He was also a member of the Fourth Degree Assembly 1219 of the Knights of Columbus. In his 56 years as a member of the Knights of Columbus, he was involved in most of the council's activities. He was a 40-year member of the Knights of Columbus Bowling League and a member of John Eisen Holding Corporation.

His dedication to St. John's Church and the Knights of Columbus will be remembered by many. In support of Columbus High School, "Grandpa B's" jellies were donated to Alpine Holiday fundraisers year after year.

He is survived by his wife, Gertrude "Ginger," and by three children, Dan (Mary) Blackwood of Oshkosh, Patricia Hoffman of Marshfield and Mike (Judy) Blackwood of Marshfield. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Scott (Jody) Hoffman of Marshfield, Kristin (Dan) Weitzel of Janesville, Matt Blackwood of Balsam Lake, Mike M. Blackwood of Oshkosh, Lisa (Jay) Olson of Chili and Lesley Brown of Marshfield. He is further survived by 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Carmont, Kenneth and Floyd Blackwood; a sister, Ramona Kaniewski; and a son-in-law, Dan Hoffman.

A memorial will be designated in his name at a later date.

Condolences may be sent online to:www.rembsfh.com.