Michael T. Blazek

Michael Thomas "Mickey" Blazek, age 74 of New Hampton, Iowa, died Monday, May 21, 2018, at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Holy Family Parish in New Hampton with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass. Military interment by Harold Redman American Legion Post #279 Lawler will be at Calvary Cemetery in New Hampton with Jon Smith, Tom Smith, Patrick Smith, Donald Blazek Jr, Gene Blazek and Tom Blazek serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron "Goudy" Leibold, Tim Speltz, Scott Anderson, Mike Kruse, Andy Wurzer, Shane Fountian and Chad Gruenberg, Brady King, Logan Papousek, Gwen Kuehner. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 8:00 p.m. pastoral scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. 641-394-4334 Mickey was born October 2, 1943 in New Hampton, Iowa, the son of Anthony and Mildred (Smith) Blazek. He attended country school near his home by the Reilly Ridge Church. He attended New Hampton High School through his junior year before transfering to Turkey Valley High School and graduating with the class of 1961. His class was the first graduating class from TV. One night in Lawler, while he was cruising in his new 1963 Chevy Impala, Mickey met the love of his life, Sherri Barnett. The couple was married on May 28, 1966 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in New Hampton. To this union three children were born; Kristy, Kathleen and Tony. In August of 1964 Mickey proudly joined the Army National Guard serving until August of 1970. The couple farmed north of Lawler for many years. He always enjoyed being outside, because sitting still was not something Mickey did well, he always had to be working on something. Even after his retirement from farming in 1998, he worked at Blazek Corporation with his cousins Gene and Don Blazek Sr. Mickey was excited to go back this season before he became ill. Mickey truly enjoyed working at Blazek Corporation with all the guys there. The comradary with his fellow work mates meant the world to him. In Mickey's free time, he restored and renovated old vehicles. Along with his son Tony, Mickey worked on many vehicles and tractors, including a 1963 Impala and a 1931 Dodge Brothers. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. You would often catch him entertaining them and giving them a hard time. He is survived by his wife Sherri, of New Hampton, IA; three chrildren, Kristy Blazek-Hopes of Sheffield, IA, Kathleen (Kevin) Bonthius of Edina, MN and Tony (Amanda) Blazek of Lawler, IA; six granddaughters, Annie, Mickey, Destiny, Becca, Emma, Alexandra; two grandsons, Anthony and Liam; one sister, Mary Eileen (Jerry) Anstoetter of Farley, IA; one brother, Jack (Dianne) Blazek of Lawler, IA; one brother-in-law, Jim Barnett of New Hampton, IA; several loving nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Mildred; one brother, Thomas as a toddler; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Cliff and Evelyn Barnett; sister-in-law, Peggy Schulz; brother-in-law, Denny Barnett.