Blake E Larson

Kristin- our sincere sympathy on the loss of your husband Blake. Such a devastating disease but your family met the challenge with love, grace and courage. Rosemary and I know you find comfort in your lovely family.
Peace,
Celeste, Tom and Rosemary Yonushonis

I am so sorry to hear of Blake´s passing. You are very fortunate to have many children, a large extended family and many friends to support you during this time.

I think of him very often since we had many years together while working at Cummins. I recall the first time I met him while I was visiting a customer, Komatsu, in Oyama engine plant of all places. He was there as a Cummins expatriate working alongside the Japanese engineers since he had wonderful Japanese language skills, which he told me he learned from BYU and during his LDS mission to Japan.

I also recall the time when he did an expatriate assignment to Cummins Daventry engine plant in UK as its chief engineer and he would support me during plant visits and reliability issues.

When he returned to high horsepower engineering in Columbus, he became my supervisor during the development years. He was always very supportive of me and accompanied me to many offshore meetings. I recall another time when traveling I had accidentally scratched my eye cornea and needed medical attention. He bravely and skillfully drove my rental car 8 hours (normally 4 hour drive) through a winter ice and snow storm on the Autobahn to get me to an eye doctor and stayed with me during the procedure. It showed his compassion and thoughtfulness to do this.

I regard him as a friend, role model and mentor even though I had a few age years on him, and always felt he had great things ahead of him in Cummins and on the large engine program when he became its leader and spokesperson. He was a statesman and his strong faith and devotion to family was always evident in the way he worked with people in a positive manner, and his sense of humor helped us through the rough times.

His leadership on 6 Sigma and the Komatsu processes led the way and set high standards for product development in high horsepower and Cummins, and led to the success of the large engine product line.

Sincerest regrets and condolences for you and your family and his LDS community.

Norm C Blizard
Columbus IN