JOSEPH BLASCHKA Sr.

1926 - 2017

Joseph Paul Blaschka, Sr. 12/13/1926 - 4/16/2017 Joe Blaschka, Sr. returned to the Lord on Easter, April 16, 2017. He was born in Wisconsin, the 4th of 10 children of Angeline and Leo Blaschka. The family moved to Seattle in 1935. He went to Seattle Prep, into the Army Air Corps during WWII, and then went to Seattle University, where he obtained his BS. He married Genevieve (Gen) T. Morrissey in 1949 and had five children. Joe was a chemist for Crown Zellerbach in Camas, Washington. After he retired, they moved to Anderson Island, Washington. He and Gen designed and built much of their house there. He was also active building and maintaining the Oro Bay Marina. He was a member of St. John Bosco Parish. After Gen died, Joe continued to live on Anderson Island until failing health caused him to move to Bothell, Washington in 2015, so he could be closer to his son. He was preceded in death by his wife Gen (2007); children Peter (1973) and Marita (2014); and grandson Joe III (2010). His survivors include brothers Frank and Jordan, sister Stella Bennet; son Joe Jr.(Linda), daughter Rae Jean Blaschka, son Mark (Maria); grandchildren Jason Blaschka, Melissa Steiner (Brad), Elizabeth and Tony Grasher, Julie Weeks (Ryan), and Sasha Blaschka; and great-grandchildren Cody and Elly Blaschka, Jackson and Anna Steiner, Mason Weeks, and Bella Grasher. Joe loved living on Anderson Island. He loved fishing, puttering around the house, finding and chopping firewood, working at the marina, and working on several boats. He always had a good sense of humor, even up to the end. He is missed by many. Services will be at St. Brendan Catholic Church Friday, May 19, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Evergreen Hospice.