Robert P. Blaske

1932 - 2023

Robert P. Blaske

ALLEGANY - Robert P. Blaske, 91, of Olean, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, at Olean General Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was currently residing in Allegany and previously resided in Olean, Portville, Seminole, Fla. and Parrish, Fla.

Robert was born in Olean on May 7, 1932, the son of the late Robert and Josephine Carlson Blaske. He married the former Emily Love, who survives.

Robert graduated from Olean High School. He attended the University of Buffalo, Jamestown Community College and graduated from the Empire State College of NY. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War period and was a member of the American Legion and several Masonic organizations.

Robert was the owner of R. Blaske & Co., Union Sales Co. and president of Olean Union Sales Corp. for many years.

He had been associated in various capacities with the Cattaraugus County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse from 1984 to 1991. He was a past member and elder of both the First Presbyterian Church of Olean and Portville. Currently, he was a member of the Chapel on the Hill in Seminole.

In recent years, Robert had been involved with the following organizations: U.S. Peace Corps; Big Brothers of McKean County, Pa.; Eckerd Leadership Program, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Juvenile Services Program, St. Petersburg; Red Cross Disaster Program of Pinellas County, Fla.; Hospice of McKean County, Pa.; Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, Largo, Fla.; Hospice of Southwest Florida, Bradenton, Fla.; Tidewell Hospice, Palmetto, Fla.; and Homecare and Hospice, Olean.

Robert is survived by his wife, Emily; two sons, Daniel V. (Phyllis) Blaske of Kissimmee, Fla. and Craig R. (Malinda) Blaske of Winston Salem, N.C..; seven granddaughters, April Mae (Kurt) Guenther of Geneva, Fla., Michelle Ann (Seth) Scott of Waleska, Ga., Kristy Lyn (Chad) Baker of Mulberry, Fla., Crystal Lee (Dustin) Cooney of Allegany, Brandy Marie (Gino) Urdanota of Marina del Ray, Calif., Tiffany Dawn Blaske of Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Tera Michelle (Steve) Henderson of Santa Fe, Texas; four grandsons, Daniel Paul (Kathy) Blaske of Lakeland, Fla., Robert Paul Blaske II of Santa Fe, Steven Robert Blaske of Allegany and Alexander Blaske of Olean; seven great-granddaughters; eight great-grandsons; two great-great-granddaughters; two nieces, Lisa Hennig and Karen Isaman; and Emily's children, Terry (Melinda) Lopus of Bradford, Pa. and Vicki McCullough of Harrisburg, Pa.

He was predeceased by two sons, Steven R. Blaske and Terrence A. "Smiley" Blaske; a nephew, Roger K. Hennig; a sister, Mary Lou Isaman; brother-in-law, Robert Isaman; and Emily's children and granddaughters, Lisa Ramer, Susan Keim, Beth Ann Keim, Tanya Keim, Mark Lopus and Andy Lopus

Family will receive friends from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday (July 20, 2024) at Guenther Funeral Home, Inc. 1303 E. State St., Olean. Funeral service will start at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Military honors will be accorded by the Allegany American Legion.

Flowers are respectfully declined, with any desired memorials made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com.