Obit: Blaha, Vlasta Mary (1914 - 2009)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt

Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Blaha, Budilovsky, Valenta, Vater, Vater-Olson  
 

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI), Wednesday, June 24, 2009, Online Edition 
 

Blaha, Vlasta Mary (Valenta) (June 21, 1914 - June 11, 2009) 
 

Vlasta (Valenta) Blaha, 94, of Colby, died June 11, 2009, in Marshfield at St. Joseph’s Hospital Palliative Care Unit.

 
She was preceded in death by her husband, Karel (Charles) in 1971, a young son, Charles, Jr. in 1957 and by her younger brothers, Frank Valenta (Phoenix, Arizona) and Joseph Valenta, Jr. (Cicero, Illinois) in 2008.

 
Vlasta Mary Valenta was born June 21, 1914, in Chicago, Illinois, to Czech immigrant parents, Joseph Vladimir Valenta, Sr. and Marie Budilovsky Valenta. She graduated from Morton High School in 1931. She married Karel Blaha on March 29, 1947. Together they farmed briefly in Colby Township before moving to West Chicago, Illinois, where they lived until Karel retired and they moved to a farm west of Unity, Wisconsin.

 
She is survived by her daughter, Vlasta Karol Blaha, Colby; two sons, James Joseph Blaha, Unity; and Robert Charles (Helen Vater) Blaha, Loyal. She is also survived by grandchildren Ed (Kay) Vater; Sue (George) Vater-Olson; and Jack (Jenny) Vater and great grandchildren: Michael, Sarah, Eric, Robert, Charles, & Henry Vater, plus numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

 
Vlasta worked doing pharmaceutical time study and at Western Electric in Chicago. After moving to Unity in 1970, she was active with her son Robert in the development of Blaha Pheasant Farms, where she continued to work until 2002.

 
Vlasta was an avid reader who was especially passionate about human rights, women’s rights, the environment, and progressive political thought. Books were a special part of her life and her collection is varied, containing science as well as politics and biography. Vlasta was a devoted listener of Wisconsin Public Radio, especially the Ideas Network.  
 

She enjoyed gardening, sewing, needlepoint, and especially crochet. Since the age of 83, she enjoyed riding her 3-wheel bicycle around town and along country bike trails with family members.

 
Vlasta was an active community member serving the Colby Rural Arts Museum as a tour guide and volunteering time for Clark County Homemakers, Telecare, Friends of the Colby Public Library, and the Colby Elementary School Library. She was a member of Huddle Homemakers, Our Afternoon Out Homemakers, Forum 55, Colby Senior Citizens, Blue Sky Garden Club, and Chequamagon Bird Club. Vlasta had served as treasurer for the Clark County Homemakers and as president of the Friends of the Colby Public Library.

 
It was her request that she be cremated without a visitation or funeral. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be planned at a future date. Memorials in her name may be made to Marshfield Clinic (designated for research), Wisconsin Public Radio, Colby Rural Arts Museum, Friends of the Colby Public Library, or to The Progressive Magazine in Madison.