Alan Blach

Alan Blach

Alan George Blach, 75, of Reno, Nevada passed away peacefully in his home on July 17, 2015 due to complications from cancer. He is survived by his brother Richard, and sister Joan Blach, his wife Jeanne (Park) Blach and his five children, Alan Blach of Elko, Karla (Mike) Mohrman of Menlo Park, Patrick (Jodie) Blach of Elko, Laura (Ernie) Thompson of Reno, and Robert (Sue Ann) Blach of La Quinta and twelve grandchildren, Michael, Lauren, Hannah, Andrew, Sarah, Riley, Erin, Hayden, Emme, Anne, Jack, Justas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Alan was born in San Mateo, California. He was the youngest of twelve children to John Joseph and Georgina Blach. He grew up in Los Altos, California and had many stories of learning to drive in the orchards, loud family dinners with more than 30 people nightly, and many escapades with his brothers and sisters. He graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in 1957 and from the University of San Francisco in 1961 with a degree in Political Science. He met and married the love of his life Jeanne Park in 1962 beginning their 53 year marriage.

Shortly after college, he went to mortuary school and worked in the funeral business in Placerville, Lancaster, Daly City, San Francisco, and eventually Burns Funeral Home in Elko, Nevada. He then changed careers and founded Blach Distributing, a beverage wholesaler, in 1974 and remained there until 2001. Known to most in the Elko community as Al, he was involved in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Marriage Encounter and Elko Rotary Club. He was president of Nevada Beer Wholesalers and served on the Board of Directors of the National Beer Wholesalers Association. He loved Elko and especially enjoyed the Elko Basque Festival and Elko County Fair.

He cherished spending time with his wife, five kids, and grandchildren. He had a strong passion for travel, golf, creating art and was an avid 49er fan. He was a man of deep and devoted faith and was known as a generous, kind, and loving man with a twinkle in his eye. His engaging sense of humor and outgoing personality filled the room. He moved to Reno in 2007 for medical treatment. Even in his short time in Reno, he was a familiar face at The Coney Island, Johnny's, and the Cheese Board.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Georgina, John, Jim, Betty, Pat, Bob, Don, Mary, and Mike Blach.

Visitation hours are scheduled for Thursday, July 23rd from 4:00-7:00 pm, with a Rosary at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 24th at 10:30 am at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church.

Please consider a donation in memory of Alan Blach to Catholic Charities and The St. Vincent's Programs. PO Box 5099 Reno, NV 89513-9905.

The family invites you to share a condolence message in the Book of Memories at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.