John L. Blaha, 70, of Dante

Funeral Mass will be 2 PM, Friday, January 8, 2016 at Assumption Catholic Church in Dante. Burial is in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, rural Dante with Military Honors. Visitation will be Thursday from 3 to 5 PM at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner followed by at 7 PM Rosary/Wake at the church in Dante.

John L. Blaha was born January 25, 1945 in Wagner, SD, the son of Frank J. and Marcine (Sip) Blaha. He died unexpectedly Monday, January 4, 2016 at St. Michael's Hospital in Tyndall.

John attended school through the eighth grade at Rouse #73. He served in the National Guard from 1963 to 1969.

John married Jane Zacharias on November 13, 1970 in Dante. After they were married, they engaged in the gravel business and farming.

John was a member of the Rouse Township Board for many years and the Assumption Catholic Church where he served as an altar server as a youth and as janitor. He was a devout Catholic.

John will be remembered for his love of fishing, hunting, farming, driving tractors, collecting antiques, working on clocks, custom combining and windrowing, telling stories, and playing and teaching Pinochle. He especially loved his grandchildren. He also loved his cattle and horses, but had little use for dogs and cats.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Jane of Dante; mother Marcine of Dante; six children and 19 grandchildren: Frank of Dante and children Brant, Evianna, Kainen and Ila; Tony (Kathy) of Avon, Rachel and Evan; Joe (Marie) of Dante, Carolyn, Chance and Sam; Mike (Amy) of Dante, Isabella, Sabrina, Brayden and Braxton; John T. (Tracy) of Dante, Ethan, Logan and baby on the way; Amy (Alex) Weiers of Rapid City, Liam, Lucas and Arthur; two brothers: Ron of Nowthen, MN, Gene (Sandra) of Menomonie, WI; and many relatives and friends.

John was preceded in death by his father Frank J., grandson Brant, sister Judy Blaha, sister-in-law Sandra and niece Catherine Hong.