Obituary Record

John Blaco
Died on 2/11/1940
Buried in Kennard Cemetery

15 Feb., 1940 - The Enterprise

Rites for John Blaco Wednesday

Passes After Short Illness; Resident Here since 1883

Formerly County Commissioner

John Blaco, a prominent and highly respected citizen of this county, died at his home in Kennard, Nebraska, Sunday, February 11, at 2:00 a.m. following a short illness beginning with an attack of pneumonia and developing later into other complications which he was unable to overcome.

Deceased was born in England, January 28, 1860, and was the youngest of a family of eleven children, all of whom have passed on except one sister residing in England. He received his early education in his home land. At the age of 23 years he came to America coming directly to this county.

By instinct he was a farmer and after landing here he worked for a few years as a farm hand but soon purchased land and started farming for himself. Just at this period he was married to Miss Mattie Robertson, a native of this county, January 13, 1887. To them one daughter, now Mrs. Leonard Petersen, was born.

After starting farming he turned his attention to stock raising and through all the years of his farming activities he was known for his success as a stockman. Farming was his life's work and he took great pride in every phase of it. His cattle were of the best, his horses were of the best breeding and his farm showed the work of a master farmer.

Though his life was a busy one, he did not shirk his responsibilities to his community, and for over twenty years he administered the office of director of the March school district in which he resided.

His ability, his integrity and his energy caused his friends to persuade him to accept the nomination for county commissioner which office he filled with great benefit to the county and credit to himself. The last year of his tenure of office, he acted as chairman of the board and before that he served as chairman of the road committee. He was later asked to run for the legislature, but his heart was in his farming and he refused to run.

He was an active Mason for thirty-seven years and served in every capacity, being Worshipful Master of the Kennard Chapter for a number of years. He was also an active member of the Modern Woodman Order.

Mr. Blaco made four trips back to England to visit his relatives and to renew his earlier acquaintances. His first trip in 1905, he went alone, but later in 1909 and 1914, he took his family. He went again, on business, in 1925 making the trip alone.

He was one of the organizers of the Home State Bank at Kennard and held stock in the Farmers Grain and Lumber Company for many years and was also a stockholder and director of the Blair Telephone Company from the time of its organization until its purchase some years ago.

In 1914, he decided to retire from the farm and held a farm sale and moved to Kennard where he had already built a fine home. Here he resided until his death. In December of 1925, his wife passed away and since that time, the home has been maintained, the daughter, Mrs. Petersen, taking her mother's place and doing everything possible to make his declining years peaceful and happy.

His death is a great loss, not alone to his family and his personal friends, but to the community at large. His wise counsel, his timely advice, his understanding and fairness, coupled with his long years of experience, will be missed by us all. He was a real man in every respect and his exemplary life could not help but shed its influence over all with whom he came in contact.

Besides the immediate family, he leaves a grandson, Berkley, and a granddaughter, Mattie Jane Petersen and a number of nephews and nieces who will mourn him.

Funeral rites were held Wednesday, afternoon at 1:30 from the home and at 2:00 from Kennard Methodist Church with Rev. David Simpson of Arlington officiating, and interment was made in the Kennard Cemetery beside the deceased wife. At the grave, the Masons had charge giving their impressive ceremonies over the body of their dear departed brother.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #26239326 Note: Per Cemetery records, John was buried in the Kennard Cemetery, Kennard, Washington County, NE, USA; Plot: Blk 6 Lt 48 Sp 5

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 2/15/1940


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