John Blagg

John W Blagg, son of Walter and Bertha (Woods) Blagg, was born on the family farm in rural Estherville on October 9, 1925. He passed away at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, Iowa on March 14, 2026, at the age of 100 years.

John attended Blagg Country School, that was taught by his mother, Center Township School, and graduated from Gruver High School in 1943.

John was united in marriage to Fauntelle Hays on March 8, 1947, at the Gruver Presbyterian Church. The couple made their home in rural Estherville, where John farmed a Century Farm.

John was active in the community, as a member of the Emmet County Cattlemen, Emmet County Pork Producers, a Center Township Trustee, a Lincoln Central School Board member and the ELK's Lodge. John was actively farming until his retirement in 1997 but continued to live on the farm until 2022 when he moved to Homestead Assisted Living in Estherville.

He was an active member of the Gruver Presbyterian church and a member of the board of trustees until it closed. He and his wife then joined the First Presbyterian Church in Estherville.

John enjoyed playing cribbage, rummy and 500. Most mornings John could be found at the VFW for coffee and playing cards with "the boys", which he did until his 100th birthday. He also enjoyed word puzzles, and listening to music by Danny O'Donnel and Lawrence Welk. He last drove combine for harvest when he was 96 years old and continued hauling grain after that. He was involved with farming decisions until he was 100.

John was an avid baseball player in his early adult years and enjoyed snowmobile riding, especially riding the Des Moines River from Estherville to Jackson.

He was a supporter of 4-H and helped "train" many of his children's cattle to show at the Emmet County Fair. John enjoyed Fauntelle's made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls, Red Velvet cake and dark chocolate. He was a Chicago baseball fan. His dream World Series would have been the Cubs vs. Minnesota Twins, it never happened, but he was quite happy to see the Cubs win the World Series in 2016.

John is survived by his children, Beth Christiansen and her husband, Craig of St. James, Minnesota; Gary Blagg and his wife, Julie of Blue Earth, Minnesota; David Blagg and his wife, Lynn of Omaha, Nebraska; Sue Benz and her husband, Larry of Melvin, Iowa; Jodi Speidel of Sioux City, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, Chad Blagg, Kevin (Amber) Blagg, Tim (Tracy) Blagg, Brian (Kacee) Christiansen, John (Ashley) Benz, Matthew (Stephanie) Benz, Kym Christiansen, Megan (Nikole Nuttall) Benz, Kirsten Blagg, Eryn (Kieran Liming) Blagg, Devaney Speidel, and Callahan Speidel; and nine great-grandchildren, Sydney Blagg, Abby Blagg, Ryan Blagg, Eli Blagg, Simon Benz, Samuel Benz, Sadie Benz, Watson Christiansen and Welles Christiansen.

John is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Fauntelle, and other family members and friends.