Gordon Roger Blake

Gordon Roger Blake was born June 5, 1926, to Homer and Margaret Blake in Wells. He attended school in Wells and Albert Lea. Gordon served in the United States Army during WWII from 1945 - 1946. He married Lola Ryan on July 6, 1947. Gordon spent most of his working life in Albert Lea. He had several body shops and started Albert Lea Auto Salvage with his partner, Lu Ryan in 1958. Gordon retired in 1988 and then built several condos on Lakewood Avenue. He had also owned Waseca Village Bowl from 1976 - 1990. After spending several winters in Arizona, the couple moved there permanently in 1990. Golf was Gordon's passion. He was a member of the American Legion and Elks in Albert Lea, where he had served as the Exalted Ruler in 1982. In past years, Gordon had belonged to the Lions, Eagles, Moose, Masons, & Shriners. Survivors include his wife, Lola Blake of Sun City West; his daughter, Bonnie and husband, Tom Kennedy and his son, Jim and wife, Beth Blake, all of Waseca; grandchildren: Shelly Todd Maland of Faribault, Todd Kerri Kennedy of Waseca, Ryan April Kennedy of Rochester, Kristi Blake Mark Mondloch of St. Cloud, and Travis Blake of Waseca; great-grandchildren: Alex, Brianna and Dylan Maland, Alysha and Nick Kennedy, Carter Kennedy, and Kylie Mondloch; sisters, Jean Hanson and Betty and her husband, Ralph Johnson of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Blake of Alden and Rita Blake of Albert Lea; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Betty Ron Mathews, Laverne Ryan and friend, Faith Dahl, Delores Bill Cooper, and Roger Diane Ryan; many nieces and nephews; and step mother, Leone Blake Moeller of Harlingen, TX. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Richard and Harold; brother-in-law, Richard Hanson; great-granddaughter, Ashley Ellison; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ruby and Clarence Ryan.