Memorials › Perry James Blach

Perry James Blach

24 May 1923 – 11 Jan 2011

Birth24 May 1923
Death11 Jan 2011
CemeteryYuma Cemetery
Yuma , Yuma County , Colorado , USA
Added byOur Colorado Family on 27 Feb 2011
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64281587

Bio

Perry James Blach was born on May 24, 1923 to Ambrose A. and Katherine Brand Blach on the family farm, eight miles north and one mile east of Yuma, Colorado. He was their third child, and only son, among a family of eight children. He passed away January 11, 2011. Perry, along with his sisters, attended Hammond School; their school bus was a Shetland pony and buggy, picking up some of the neighboring children along the way. Perry attended Yuma High School, where he graduated in 1941. Being athletically inclined, he excelled in football, softball, and boxing. He participated in the All State Football Game in 1941. His 4-H activities were an important part of his agricultural education, having won several trips to the Colorado State Fair, a trip to the 4-H Club Congress in Chicago in 1940, and a trip to the National 4-H Camp in Washington DC in 1941. He earned his Star Farmer Degree and American Farmer Degree during his FFA career. In the fall of 1941, he enrolled at Colorado A&M in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where he was active in campus activities, was president of his sophomore class, and lettered in football for three years. From 1943 to 1946, Perry served in the Armed Forces of the Unites States, going across Europe with General George Patton's Third Army with the 738th Field Artillery Battalion. During his service, Perry was awarded the Bronze Star. Prior to returning home, he attended one semester of college at Biarritz American University in Biarritz, France. Perry returned from World War II in January 1946 and re-enrolled at Colorado A&M. He graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry. During the summer of 1947, Perry met a young lady from Idalia, Colorado who took his eye, and she became his bride on August 2, 1948. She was Teresa A. Devlin, daughter of B. Leo Devlin and Mary Agnes 'Mamie' (O'Rourke) Devlin. Perry and Teresa made their home on a farm located 9 miles north and 3 miles east of Yuma, where they lived for more than 60 years. Together, they raised nine children. He farmed a variety of crops, raised cattle, and enjoyed his horses. Perry raised registered Herefords, and he sold bulls to ranchers across many states. He loved to visit his bull customers from as far north as Montana and Wyoming and south to the Waggoner Ranch in Texas. He loved raising cattle and meeting many people who shared that passion across the country. Perry showed cattle at the National Western Stock Show in Denver beginning in 1940 and continued to show there through 1978. The 'Stock Show' was one of Perry's favorite traditions. Perry also enjoyed his horses. He raised a handful of ranch horse foals each year and enjoyed his team of Belgian draft horses, a love that started with his experience of farming with draft horses as a young man. Later in life, Perry joined his son, Bernie, in the farm and ranch real estate business, which he enjoyed very much. Although Perry was fond of many activities, none brought him more joy than his lifelong relationship with Colorado State University, formerly Colorado A&M, where he attended college. Perry served on the CSU Alumni Board for 24 years, was a founding member of the CSU Alumni Foundation, he received the Honor Alumnus Award in 1970, the Henry Award in 1995, the Livestock Leader Award in 1995, and the CSU Alumni Family Award in 2001. Perry was an active supporter of the CSU athletic program, the College of Agriculture, the Animal Science Department, as well as the university in general. Perry was active with many local, state, and national organizations. He loved people, and his activities reflected his passion for them. His Catholic Faith was core to who he was. As the sun rises daily, Perry was similarly consistent in his devotion to his Faith. He was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church in Yuma his entire life. With similar loyalty, Perry was a member of the Yuma Lions Club for 62 years, was devoted to the community service of the Lions and pursued it with his usual vigor. Perry recruited numerous members of the community to Lions Club, where they shared a special bond of friendship and service that weaved throughout the community. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Yuma County Cattlemen's Association, Colorado Hereford Association, American Hereford Association, as well as many other organizations. Perry also served as the announcer for Yuma High School football games from 1948 through 1976 and was a founding director of the Irrigation Research Foundation in Yuma. In recent years, in response to requests from his grandkids, Perry enjoyed gathering a small group of veterans who served their country during World War II at the Yuma Schools on Veterans Day to teach about their firsthand experiences in the war. Though he often spoke of people and places during his time in Europe, he had never spoken of the details of his experiences. As he once said, 'I can't say no to my grandkids.' He had great confidence and optimism regarding the youth of today and would do most anything to support them. Most people knew Perry by his trademark smile, a handshake, a kind word, the gleam in his eye, and his infectious laugh. He believed in hard work, honesty, and integrity. He taught those principles by example. He lived each day, month, and year with a steady, remarkable consistency. Whether it was his family, his farm, his Faith, or his friends, Perry was always there in good times and in bad. You could depend upon him. Perry loved his wife, his kids, grand-kids, and great grand-kids and made each one feel 'most' special. He treasured his sisters and their families, nieces and nephews, and all of his many friends. He always made time for and enjoyed the opportunity to visit with those he met each day. He had a keen memory for people he met, and he loved to revisit those relationships even years later. Perry is survived by his wife; daughter-in-law of Ft. Collins; son and wife of Yuma; son-in-law of Ft. Collins; son, of Denver; daughter and husband of Yuma; daughter and husband of Leawood, KS; son and wife of Sterling; son and wife of Centennial; son and wife of Monument. He is also survived by sister of Sterling; sister and husband of Houston, TX; brothers-in-law and wives of Mayer, AZ; of Lima, Peru, of Las Vegas, NV; of Stillwater, OK; and sister-in-law and husband of Lawrence, KS. Perry was especially proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Briar and Marty Clark, Amari and Mason; Brevin and Natasha Blach, and Talan; Justin and Dawn Blach, Kalyn and Kyli; Jaden and Lyndsey Blach, Chasey, Louden, Kallen, and Cooper; Sarah and Dan Hogan, Connor and Parker; Katie and Aaron Kruger; Hannah and Brian Long, Cimarron and Bailee; Maggie Metzler; Caleb Metzler; Teresa and Tom Sanders, Wade and Josie; Tim and Briana Robertson, and Caysen; Thad Robertson, and Dylan; Caroline and Peter McGah; Grant Curtin; Kyle and Jordan Blach; Ty and Haylee Blach; Garrett, Brina, Grady, Kenzie, Granger, and Grogan Blach. Perry was preceded in death by his parents, Ambrose A. and Katherine Blach, his son, Bernie Blach, and his daughter, Patty Metzler. He was also preceded by his sisters Avis Willeke, Bonnie Blach, Gloria Norwood, Betty Buchkowski, and Annabelle Perlenfein, and numerous other family members, in-laws, and friends. Memorials may be sent to the Perry Blach Memorial, c/o Mary Kay Robertson, 6101 Co. Rd 45, Yuma, CO 80759. These will be used to support two Perry and Teresa Blach Scholarship funds to Colorado State University and St. John's Catholic Church in Yuma. Services were held at St. John's Catholic Church in Yuma, Colorado, with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Sunday, January 16, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial was held January 17, at 10 a.m. with Father Jonathan Dellinger and Father Leo Smith officiating. Interment followed at Yuma Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Baucke Funeral Home and Monuments in Yuma. --Yuma Pioneer, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, Pg. 8

Inscription

PERRY JAMES BLACH TEC 4 US ARMY WORLD WAR II MAY 24 1923 JAN 11 2011 BRONZE STAR MEDAL

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