Mabel Esther Blaha

Mabel Blaha, age 101, a resident of Spooner, died on Monday, May 5, 2025, at her home with family at her side.

Mabel Esther Blaha was born on November 21st, 1923, in the Town of Crystal to Carl and Anna (nee Melby) Hagen. She attended Crystal Lake Grade School, Spooner High School, University of Wisconsin Extension Program in Spooner, St. Therese School of Nursing in Waukegan, IL, attending affiliate classes at Loyola University in Chicago, IL. Mabel was employed at St. Therese Hospital, from 1945-1986, serving as an RN Nurse Educator in the Emergency Room, and as Administrative Director of Materials and Supply Management. She served on the School of Nursing Faculty and on the Hospital Board of Directors. Mabel was elected as the first President of the 16th District Illinois Nurses Association and the INA's Board of Directors for 14 years, and was a member of the St. Therese Alumni Association.

Mabel married the love of her life, Albert J. (Bud) Blaha, on April 12, 1947. They lived in Waukegan, IL , and enjoyed life to the fullest, traveling, downhill skiing, camping, golfing, square dancing, were season ticket holders to the Bears, enjoyed Baseball games and were active members of their church community at St. Anastasia Catholic Church. They served as second parents to their 9 nieces and nephews, loving each of them as their own. As the families of each of "the 9" grew, new family members felt that special love. Mabel had the special quality of making each of them feel like they were her favorite, always curious and delighted to learn about their lives. After the death of her husband, Mabel moved back to her hometown of Spooner and shared a home with her sister Ruth for the next 20 years. Mabel remained active and engaged in life through her 101 years. She continued to travel internationally and developed new interests in her later years. She taught herself to play bridge on the computer at age 80, she joined two bridge clubs, developed new friendships and enjoyed reuniting with old school friends.

She is survived by her eight remaining nieces and nephews, many great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

Mabel is preceded in death by husband, Bud, parents, Carl and Anna Hagen, brother, Don Hagen, sisters, Helen Meacham and Ruth Twining, nephew Mark Hagen, nephew Peter Pekkarinen.

A Funeral Mass for Mabel Blaha will be held on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 1pm, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Spooner with Fr. Philip Juza as Celebrant. Visitation will be at the Church on Monday from 11-1pm. Interment will take place at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville, Illinois, next to her husband.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mabel's name would be greatly appreciated to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 409N Summit St., Spooner, WI 54801, Feed My People at fmpfoodbank.org or St. Jude’s at stjude.org.

Online memories and or condolences may be left at www.bratley-nelsonchapels.com.